City of London Visit

Thirty Hasmonean boys had a special cultural day out in the City of London. They visited the law firm of Holman Fenwick Willan where they received some great advice from the Managing Partner, Mr Jeremy Shebson, and the incoming Senior Partner, Mr Giles Kavanagh. The two partners discussed the importance of working hard, being a good team player, being true to yourself and proud of your identity.

Following this visit, the boys made their way down the Thames for an amazing Thames Rocker speedboat tour where they learned about the history of all the monuments, landmarks and bridges as they whizzed past.

Girls’ School Packathon

H.I.P.E Girls ran a fabulous packathon during Thursday’s lunch break. The girls created beautiful Mishloach Manot in order to raise the spirits of the children in Moldova this Purim. They have been seriously affected by the situation in Ukraine, losing their homes and sense of security. Each parcel was accompanied with a personal note from a student.

Some of the food in the packages has been kindly donated by Kosher Kingdom, Kays and from the money raised by selling doughnuts for the cause.

It was wonderful to see so many of our girls giving up their time to ensure that other young people can enjoy a sweet pleasure this Purim- giving them a small respite from the danger and fighting that has surrounded them.

Assembly at the Boys’ School

On the morning of Wednesday 9th March, boys from Years 7-10 were gathered in the main hall for an assembly about the situation in Ukraine. Rabbi Golker began the proceedings with a stirring comparison about how the Brisker Rov ZT”L and Rebbetzin Kotler O”H, demonstrated their own grief, whilst showing solidarity for those who were actually experiencing hard times, be it in WW2, or surviving major fires in Brisk.

This was followed by Rabbi Fachler, who played a live report from Mr Jeremy Posen, one of the heads of the Tikva Orphanage in Odessa, who has been with the orphans and the community since the outbreak of the war. He gave the boys an up-to-date account of the plight of the orphans and the other families – their current whereabouts, how they all managed to cross the border and what the future looks like for them, now that they have nothing but the clothes on their backs.

The boys then watched the historical and moving speech given by Ukrainian President Zelensky to Parliament.

Mrs Lebrett gave the closing remarks, encouraging the boys to think of their own comfort when they go to bed in their own bedrooms and never take that for granted, especially after what we have witnessed with the all of the refugees from Ukraine.

The assembly concluded with Tehilim led by Rabbi Fachler.

Rosh Chodesh Adar – Boys’ School

The Hebrew month of Adar kicked off with a bang at the Boys’ School!

The festival of Purim falls in Adar and is all about excitement and giving. It was very appropriate then that the Boys’ School held a small charity fundraiser which raised over £300 for various different charities in Ukraine.

To celebrate the month of Adar, HIPE had some fun and challenged the students to ‘Anything But a Backpack’ day. The boys’ imaginations ran riot as they brought in shopping trolleys, wheelie cars, pet cages, and even a paddling pool!

 

Rosh Chodesh Adar – Girls’ School

Rosh Chodesh Adar was celebrated at the Girls’ School with the most beautiful singing of Hallel, made all the more special as it has been two years since we could sing as a whole school. The Hall was decorated with balloon arches, streamers and glow letters by our wonderful HIPE team, who led the girls in dancing at break and at lunchtime to usher in this month of joy.

#ADAR2022 was always going to be special. The theme of Adar ‘I’M A CHAMPION’ was launched with a video and a flash mob which had been created by the students themselves. It was so exciting to see the whole school singing and dancing to the same song- the hall came alive with the sheer joy and excitement of being a CHAMPION. The girls were all given ‘I’M A CHAMPION’ rosettes to wear. The Sixth Form and some staff enlivened the morning further with the traditional Frummy Friday as the dress code for the Sixth Form, culminating in an impromptu ‘Mitzva Tanz’ in the common room! In addition, doughnuts to support Ukraine were sold, in keeping with the mitzvah of Tzedaka which is so central to Purim. Over £200 was raised.

Beis Chazak Shabbaton to Lower Mill Estate

Beis Chazak aims to provide a tailor-made programme, for a selection of pupils in Year 11-13, where the focus is the boys’ personal growth and journey of Yiddishkeit. Beis Chazak’s intention is to generate an atmosphere of achdus and to instil a sense of Jewish pride.

The goal is to provide a deeper understanding of Judaism and foster a greater connection to it; equipping the pupils with the necessary skills and knowledge to support them as young Jewish adults into their lives after school.

Last week, we went big and took the boys on a shabbaton to Lower Mill Estate – ‘The Venice of the Cotswolds.’ There were too many memories created on this Shabbaton to share them all, but some highlights included: the ruach of Kabalat Shabbat in full view of the lake, a 5km trek through the woods in pitch black, kayaking on the lake, and biking through the woods.

Some parents have already shared with us the impact that this had on their sons:

“Yitzi had the most wonderful time and enjoyed every minute. The food, atmosphere, Davenning, all the activities etc. were all outstanding and so well organised. This Shabbaton will be one that Yitzi will remember for a very long time.”

“Noam came home on a high and I’m very grateful. The ruach you gave over has definitely left an impact and something they will always remember. We don’t always see it and we might not always show it, but it’s things like these that really go a very long way and though the kids don’t always show it, you’re obviously doing brilliantly and it’s moments like these that will stay with them always.”

Rabbi Doron Birnbaum together with Rabbi Amram Landau and Mr Avi Markewicz, have tirelessly worked on creating a programme for these boys that regularly runs outstanding projects, trips, and a dynamic Jewish curriculum.

If you would like to be involved in this project, please email d.birnbaum@hasmonean.co.uk

Girls’ School HIPE Events – Years 7 & 8

The Year 7 girls who are celebrating their Bat Mitzvahs this term enjoyed a painting activity with Sharon Schachter. They created original and attractive masks using a range of acrylic paints. While the paint was drying, they signed and decorated boards for their friends. Mrs Taylor, Director of Jewish Living, spoke to the girls and presented each one with a sefer. The finale of the evening involved every young woman speaking about the significance of her name.

On Thursday 24th February, the Year 8 girls were treated to an afternoon of fun. At lunchtime they piled into coach to go indoor rock climbing at the Westway Climbing. As they were so near Westfield Shopping Centre, it made perfect sense to enjoy a scavenger hunt around the shops, looking for mannequins wearing blue beanies just like the HIPE ones, finding 50% signs, and a range of other challenges designed to bring the girls together. Back at school they created beautiful collages to present the theme of ‘climbing higher.’ Supper was a pizza fest of margarita pizzas and chocolate pizza! Finally, everyone sang their hearts out at a glow-stick kumzitz, where Michal Benisch added to the atmosphere with her exquisite guitar playing. One mother praised the event, saying:” It was a “most fabulous, smashing, awesome, much needed day for Year 8!”

Thank you to the HIPE team and all the staff who supported them to create and facilitate these two very special events.

Boys’ School Music Concert

Our ears are still ringing from the wonderful sound of the boys’ choir who sang their hearts out at our excellent GCSE Specialist concert last night. The concert opened with the Year 7 and 8 boys singing the Cup Song, which provided each student with a small solo, as well as the joy of singing together in the choir.

The concert was a wonderful mix of piano solos, keyboard and piano duets, and guitar and saxophone performances. There were a lot of singers and duo performances, who were all of an impressively high standard.

The Year 9 and Up choir performed at the close of the first half and then both choirs joined forces at the end. Mr D’Cruz, our choir master, has really re-ignited the boy’s passion for singing and it was a wonderful addition to the concert.

The concert also featured compositions from students from Years 9-11 and we have some exciting immerging talent in our school!

Thanks to Mr D’Cruz and Mr Hattingh for their expert teaching and support of the students. Thank you to Mrs Algranati, who is so dedicated to all our music students and takes the time to give them the chance to shine in their performance.

Beis Chazak – Rosh Chodesh

Rosh Chodesh Adar 1 saw a packed Beis Chazak programme. Fathers, sons and close family members came together for Tefillah. It was genuinely awe inspiring to see two generations putting on Tefillin and davening together. It was a very special experience to hear so many raising their voices to join in Hallel. The sound was particularly sweet as the sound of song in prayer had been silenced for so long.

Everyone enjoyed a fabulous Bagels Bar breakfast as well as words of Chizuk from Rabbi Landau, who spoke about the meaning of true joy, weaving together many different ideas of Chazal. Rabbi Golker spoke about how the message of the Torah is timeless, yet sometimes the means of communicating that message changes. Beis Chazak is part of the dynamic communication that is needed for these boys.

Thank you to Mr Markiewicz who ensured that as many parents as possible attended. And thank you to Rabbi Doron Birnbaum, who started Beis Chazak four years ago. It felt like a milestone had been reached to see a packed Beis Midrash. The boys who attend are all thriving on their individual journeys towards a stronger sense of their Yiddishkeit.

Boys’ School – Holocaust Memorial Day

The Hasmonean Memorial Day events at the Boys’ School were absolutely outstanding.

Years 7 and 8 took part in an incredibly moving and informative presentation by the Jewish Museum. Thanks to Benji Shebson for inviting the Jewish Museum to come to share his grandfather’s moving story with the boys.

Our Years 9 and 10 boys were assembled in the school hall and, for over an hour, they were taken through a journey by the world renowned Holocaust historian, Rabbi Aubrey Hersh – a Hasmonean alumni – on the meaning of hero.

He presented a fascinating film about a Hungarian Chassidish Jew, the son of a Rebbe, who at aged 18, disguised himself as an SS Officer and was responsible for saving 100’s (maybe 1,000’s) of lives during WW2. For the duration of the assembly, you could hear a pin drop.

Also, a number of students took part in a really outstanding inter-faith morning where students from St Mary’s school were entertained, educated and fed together with a number of our students. It was an exceptional morning and the feedback from the staff and students from St Mary’s was extremely complimentary. Thanks to Mrs Katz, the HIPE team and the teachers involved for delivering a fantastic morning. We have already been invited back to St Mary’s in the near future.