Yom Ha'Ivrit – Hebrew Day at PJA!

In preparation for last week’s Yom Ha'Ivrit (Hebrew Day), many classes studied the life of Eliezer Ben-Yehudah, whose birthday marks the day of Yom Ha'Ivrit. Eliezer Ben-Yehudah is considered the father of the modern Hebrew language. Not only did he create new words, but he was also able to create a structure that supported the spread of Hebrew as a spoken language. One of the highlights of the Yom Ha’Ivrit celebration was viewing a video created by our 7th and 8th graders which told the story of Eliezer Ben-Yehudah. Through creative storytelling our students brought his life and legacy to the screen, demonstrating their deep understanding of his impact on the development of the Hebrew language. Students also examined Ben-Yehudah’s well-documented strict and obsessive nature. Ben-Yehudah was so focused on his vision of making Hebrew a spoken language that he was sometimes oblivious to others' needs or saw them as inferior to his vision. Students were encouraged to discuss how it feels to be so passionate about something (a game, a political opinion, or an assignment, for example) that we act in a way that is disrespectful or unkind. What good things can come from being so passionate? What are the downsides? 

Throughout the day Hebrew was woven into our activities in fun and interactive ways, from costumes to crafts. Middle school students took on the role of educators and designers as they planned, built and led Hebrew games for our lower school students to enjoy. It was inspiring to see their leadership and enthusiasm shine! In mishpachot (family) groups, students designed and decorated personalized Hebrew challah covers incorporating Hebrew words, and we look forward to seeing them used in homes and classrooms throughout our community. Our school-wide assembly was filled with ruach (spirit) as we sang and danced together, celebrating Hebrew through music and movement. 

Yom Ha’Ivrit was a true celebration of language, culture, and community. Thank you to our students, teachers, and staff for making this day so memorable!