Last week, the ����AV Academy community came together to mark Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut with meaningful programming.

The week began on Monday evening with a community-wide Yom HaZikaron commemoration at ����AV High School, in partnership with the Riverdale Jewish Community Partnership. The tekes honored the courageous chayalim who gave their lives defending Israel, as well as victims of terror. Community members gathered to remember loved ones who made the ultimate sacrifice, with local rabbinic and lay leaders standing in solidarity and sharing personal stories. Among those in attendance were Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson; Councilmember Eric Dinowitz; Rabbi Dovid Zirkind (RJC); Rav Steven Exler (HIR); Rabbi Asher Abramovitz (Kinneret Day School); Rabbi Linda Shriner-Cahn (Congregation Tehillah); Rabbi Katie Greenberg (CSAIR); Rabbanit Bracha Jaffe (HIR); Rabbi Barry Dov Katz (CSAIR); Rosh Kehilah Dina Najman (Kehilah of Riverdale); Rabbi Dov Linzer (Yeshivat Chovevei Torah); Rabba Sara Hurwitz (Maharat), Miriam Zami Edeson (YIOZ), guests from Kfar Aza, Amit and Tomer Ades; and Mr. Avigdor Gargy. The program can be viewed at .

Yom HaZikaron continued in school on Tuesday. Throughout the day, students heard powerful firsthand accounts of service and sacrifice from alumni, faculty, and community members. Thank you to alumni Rachel Merczynski-Hait (AC ’19, HS ’23) and Eliyahu Najman (HS ’23), and to ����AV faculty and staff, including Morah Eden Avni, Moreh Asaf Diamant, Moreh David Engel, Daniel Hadary, Moreh Yonatan Reich, and Morah Kira Smordin, as well as spouses of faculty, Eldad Baruch and Matanel Bareli, for sharing their experiences with students and for their service.

����AV Middle School students led impactful tekesim for younger grades, combining music and reflection to help students engage with the meaning of the day (bit.ly/MSYomHaZikaron26). The programming deepened students’ understanding of the resilience and bravery of those who defend Israel.

����AV Academy was also honored to welcome Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin, parents of Hersh z”l, for a moving tekes held on the school steps. As they entered to the sound of nearly 1,000 students singing, the moment captured the strength and unity of the ����AV community. Students demonstrated their connection to Israel through meaningful acts and tefilot, offering chizuk to the Polins during an emotional gathering (bit.ly/RachelJon_Steps).

On Wednesday, the community transitioned from remembrance to celebration in honor of Yom Ha’atzmaut. The day began with a spirited musical Hallel on the steps, followed by a festive chagigah on the field. Highlights included the always-inspiring sixth-grade daglanut performance, Lower School blue vs. white Maccabiah, and inflatables for Early Learning Center students. Middle School students went to Van Cortlandt Park for a day of fun after participating in the Yossi Hershkovitz z”l Beit Sefer LaMusika, named after beloved former ����AV Academy faculty member Yossi Hershkovitz z”l, which continues to be a meaningful part of the school’s Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration ().

The celebrations culminated with the Rabbi William Z. and Eda Bess Novick z”l Community Yom Ha’atzmaut BBQ, a joyful gathering of families and friends. Organized by the Parent Association and supported by dedicated staff, the event brought the community together under blue skies and Israeli flags, providing a fitting close to a powerful week.

The presence of returning friends of ����AV Academy, Amit and Tomer Ades from Kfar Aza, Israel, throughout the week added a deeply personal dimension. 

Thank you to the many faculty members, staff, and parent leaders who thoughtfully planned and executed the week’s programming, and to the families whose support made it all possible. Through remembrance, reflection, and celebration, the ����AV community honored Israel’s past while looking ahead with hope and pride toward its bright future.

The post ����AV Academy Honors Israel’s Past and Celebrates Its Future appeared first on ����AV Academy.

As we moved from the reflection and remembrance of Yom HaZikaron to the celebration and joy of Yom Ha’atzmaut, ����AV Academy students looked forward to one of their most beloved annual events: the Middle School Beit Sefer LaMusika program, renamed in honor of Yossi Hershkovitz z״l. This meaningful tradition brings the community together each year to celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut through Israeli music, and this marks the second year since the program was renamed in Yossi’s memory.

Yossi z”l, who brought his love of music and his warm, inspiring approach to teaching to ����AV Academy, played a pivotal role in shaping this program through his joyful violin playing, his kindness, and his leadership. Together with his wife, Hadas, he helped lead and accompany both the Yom HaZikaron tekes and the Beit Sefer LaMusika performances, supporting students as they prepared and guiding them not only as a teacher but as a true musical presence in the ����AV community. His death while defending Israel in November 2023 was an immense loss, but his memory continues to live on in every note played by the students.

This year, six groups took the stage and showcased their tremendous talent: Eitan Kadosh-Rogers and Eli Goldstein; Ilay Yagel; Lielle Perl and Temma Mermelstein; Koren Baruch and Max Gribetz; Liliana Greenspun and Maayan Solomon; and Leo Katz, Zohar Katz, and Noah Weinstein. Their songs were beautiful and helped frame the day with meaning, purpose, and celebration. It was especially meaningful to hear reflections from teacher-judges, Ms. Rebecca Ostro Nagata, Rabbi Eli Ollech, Rabbi Zev Hait, and Morah Ali Bloom, on each performance.

A special kol hakavod to MCs, Noam Reich and Manu Perelis, for leading the program so thoughtfully. Thank you to all the students who participated and worked so hard in preparation for their performances. To the ����AV 8th graders, after years of contributing to this program, we say goodbye with pride and a touch of sadness.

Congratulations to this year’s Yossi Hershkovitz z״l Beit Sefer LaMusika winners: Koren Baruch and Max Gribetz. 

These performances, culminating each year on Yom Ha’atzmaut, serve as a powerful reflection of Yossi’s enduring impact and the beauty he brought to the school and the lives he touched.

The post Yossi Hershkovitz z״l Beit Sefer LaMusika appeared first on ����AV Academy.

Their words offered a window into both the challenges and the extraordinary strength and resilience that have defined their days since the start of the war. As the school community watched via livestream, students, faculty, and families were able to see and hear directly from those on the ground, fostering a sense of closeness despite the physical distance. For all who were present, it was an opportunity not only to listen, but to connect in a deeply personal and meaningful way.

Together, the community paused, reflected, and offered chizuk, drawing strength from one another and reinforcing the powerful sense of unity that continues to bind ����AV families everywhere.

The post ����AV Academy Community Connects with Israel in Virtual Gathering Amid Ongoing War appeared first on ����AV Academy.

The post The Third Grade Wacky Wax Museum appeared first on ����AV Academy.

In the Purim story, collective prayer paved the way for the redemption of the Jewish people from evil that sought to destroy them. More than 2,300 years later, that message resonates with renewed urgency.

On the steps of the school, students and faculty came together in tefillah at a time when families across Israel are living in a constant state of uncertainty, moving in and out of shelters, and reservists being called back to duty. The ����AV community stood in solidarity with the people of Israel and with the brave soldiers of both the Israeli and U.S. military, offering prayers for their protection and safety.

But protection is not only physical; it is spiritual as well.

That same morning marked the culmination of the ����AV Mezuzah Project (TheMezuzahProject.org/sar), a schoolwide initiative to ensure that every IDF base has checked and kosher mezuzot. In their classrooms, students learned about the mitzvah of mezuzah, its meaning, its halachic requirements, and its role as a symbol of divine protection. Simultaneously, the broader ����AV community mobilized to raise support for nearly 800 mezuzot.

Each mezuzah represents a tangible reminder to our chayalim that they are not alone, that an entire community supports them.

As Purim began that evening, the lessons of Esther and Mordechai felt especially timely. When Haman sought to annihilate the Jewish people of ancient Persia, it was unity, courage, and unwavering faith that ultimately brought about salvation. Today, as challenges once again confront Am Yisrael, that same spirit endures.

Our strength lies in standing together, in tefillah, in mitzvot, and in mutual responsibility.

Am Yisrael Chai.

The post Standing in Achdut With Israel on Ta’anit Esther appeared first on ����AV Academy.

����AV Academy welcomed grandparents and community members for a meaningful day filled with books, family fun, art, and bonding.

Students visited the ����AV Academy Book Fair with their classes throughout the week, and on Sunday the community joined in the fun to shop for books and enjoy a variety of exciting activities. Visitors enjoyed a festive atmosphere featuring a photo booth with an opportunity to pose with their favorite storybook characters, a magician, crafts, and books galore.

The annual Book Fair serves as both an important fundraiser for the Parent Association and a wonderful way to foster a love of reading among students. Thank you to the Parent Association Book Fair chairs, Hillary Tuvia, Marisa Mahler, Jenna Statfeld Harris, and Tanya Gershon, and to all of the parent volunteers whose hard work made this all possible.

Families also gathered at ����AV Academy on Sunday to participate in a special intergenerational ceramics mezuzah-making workshop led by ceramicist Dan Harelick. During the workshop, families designed ceramic mezuzah covers that will be delivered to army bases in Israel. This hands-on experience, part of the דור L’Door program, invited participants to explore the meaning of the mezuzah as a symbol of God’s presence and protection, bringing holiness and intention into everyday spaces, while offering a meaningful opportunity to connect with family and give back.

The post ����AV Academy Hosts Book Fair and Intergenerational Mezuzah-Making Workshop appeared first on ����AV Academy.

The students learned the song “Drishat Shalom” (“Sending Regards”) by Israeli musician Shlomi Shabat. The song is composed entirely of quotes drawn from individuals who were killed either on October 7th or in the months of conflict that followed. In Israel, many families who lost loved ones have memorialized them through unique stickers printed with a defining phrase or quote—something that captures their character, spirit, or legacy. These stickers now appear throughout public spaces across Israel and beyond, offering everyday reminders of those who fell.

In class, students studied this memorial practice and read about the individuals whose words inspire these stickers. Each student selected one quote that resonated deeply with them. They then received a blank sticker on which they wrote the quote and the name of the person it commemorates, personalizing it with artwork and designs.

The completed stickers are now displayed prominently in the school atrium. Together, the designs form the title “Drishat Shalom,” a line from the song “Your Song Will Play Forever,” the phrase “Am Yisrael Chai,” and an additional panel filled with individually crafted student tributes.

Through this collective project, students aimed not only to remember the fallen, but also to honor their values and to carry forward their legacy.

As the song says: “May their song play forever in our hearts.” 

May their memory be a blessing.

The post Middle School Students Honor October 7 Victims Through Sticker Commemoration Project appeared first on ����AV Academy.

����AV Academy came together once again on the familiar steps of the school where everyone gathered each morning throughout the 2023-24 school year and often after, to pray for the safety of Am Yisrael and Medinat Yisrael, for the safe and speedy return of our hostages, and for the protection of our chayalim. This time they came together to mark the second anniversary of October 7th and to celebrate the return of the hostages. The moment was powerful, both solemn and filled with hope, as students and faculty stood side by side with members of the community who have bravely served in Tzahal. The middle school choir led the school in beautiful shira, including “Tov L’hodot L’Hashem,” a reminder of the strength found in gratitude.

Students were reminded that their tefilot over the past two years have brought comfort and chizuk to many visitors from Israel, and that their prayers and actions matter. Their compassion, commitment, and courage continue to inspire all who are part of ����AV Academy.

This year’s theme of the year, U’vacharta Ba’chayim “and you shall choose life,” has come alive through ����AV Academy students’ daily choices. In a world often marked by uncertainty, the students choose kindness, responsibility, and growth. They choose to challenge themselves and to care for others. Through tefilah, chesed, leadership, and learning, they embody what it means to live with purpose and hope.

The post ����AV Academy Commemorates October 7 and Celebrates the Return of the Hostages appeared first on ����AV Academy.

����AV Academy students joined together in a meaningful initiative to support Israeli soldiers by packing Boots for Israel. The supplies are heading directly to our friend Tomer Ades and his unit, along with other chayalim serving across Israel.

From rolling up their sleeves to carefully sealing boxes with personalized letters, our students demonstrated what it means to take action in a hands-on and impactful way.

A special thank you goes to Yakir Wachstock, founder of Boots for Israel, for making this important mission possible and for inspiring our community to get involved.In the spirit of our schoolwide theme, “ובחרת בחיים – You Shall Choose Life,” we are proud to send strength, support, and love to those protecting Am Yisrael and Medinat Yisrael.

The post ����AV Academy Students Pack Boots for Israel appeared first on ����AV Academy.

On Sunday, May 18, 2025, ����AV Academy (Grades 4–8) and ����AV High School students, along with faculty and staff, proudly represented the school at the “Israel Day on Fifth” Parade. The sun was shining down at this year’s parade, organized by the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York and centered on the theme of Hatikvah—”The Hope.” ����AV joined countless schools, synagogues, and organizations in marching up Fifth Avenue in solidarity with Israel.

The ����AV parade shirts—designed by ����AV High School student Liat Bikel (Grade 9)—beautifully reflected this year’s theme. The light blue shirts featured the ����AV logo and a yellow ribbon on the front, while the back displayed hopeful quotes in Hebrew and English, along with a powerful visual message. Liat’s design centered around a yellow flower—echoing the yellow ribbon—growing through cracks, symbolizing the resilience of our nation and the ability to grow and thrive despite the hardships we have endured, especially in recent times. Her thoughtful design captured both the spirit of the day and the strength of Am Yisrael.

The ����AV students represented the school community with pride, marching in solidarity with Israel. They sang, danced, and cheered all the way up Fifth Avenue, as spectators joined in and waved from the sidelines, expressing shared hope and pride. 

����AV marched alongside local leaders who continue to show support for Israel and the broader Jewish community.

����AV was also honored to be joined by Hadas Hershkovitz, a former ����AV teacher visiting from Israel. Hadas taught at ����AV with her husband Yossi z”l, who was tragically killed in Gaza in November 2023. It was an honor to celebrate Yossi’s legacy of leadership, kindness, commitment to Torah and education, and unwavering love for Am Yisrael at this year’s parade. Thank you to the parade organizers and to the NYPD for ensuring a safe and uplifting day for all.

Am Yisrael Chai!

The post ����AV at the “Israel Day on Fifth” Parade appeared first on ����AV Academy.