This Nissan, YSZ High School centered its programming around the legacy carried by the women of Klal Yisrael. Framed by the words of Shir HaShirim —
—the message was clear: the geulah we celebrate was brought about through women, and the future geulah will be as well.Pesach may arrive with the familiar whirlwind of cleaning and cooking, but the deeper message shared with the students was just as powerful—the women in this story are not just participants; they are its builders.
On Rosh Chodesh, students stepped into the lives of the women who shaped our history. Each group selected a heroine and rotated through “speed-dating”-style cards, exploring her story alongside the middah she represents. With sources and guided discussion, they examined moral courage through Yocheved, hope through Miriam, achrayut through Tziporah, empathy through Batya, and the quiet resilience of the women of that generation. The goal was not simply to learn about these figures, but to recognize and internalize the middot they carry forward today.
Later in the week, the focus shifted toward preparing for the Seder. Tuesday’s Lightning Rounds gave students the opportunity to hear short Divrei Torah from their teachers on different parts of the Haggadah, jotting down ideas to bring to their own tables. This led naturally into a Haggadah World Café, where interactive stations explored the core themes of the chag. Through sources, discussion, and creative reflection, the girls left feeling prepared—not just to attend the Seder, but to actively contribute to it.
Heritage Day, as always, stood out as a highlight. Mrs. Zerykier opened the program by welcoming mothers and grandmothers—the women whose mesirut nefesh laid the foundation upon which these students stand. Following a light breakfast, grandmothers and granddaughters moved into workshop sessions that built on the month’s theme, focusing on the transmission of middot across generations.
The conversations were genuine and deeply personal—stories of challenge, sacrifice, and the responsibility of carrying forward a legacy.
One of the most meaningful elements of the day was a mirror installation, where participants wrote what they see in one another. Together, these reflections formed a powerful portrait of the kochot of nashim tzidkaniyot—past, present, and future—and a quiet recognition that this chain continues through them.
A hands-on component brought these ideas into a tangible form. Grandmothers and granddaughters decorated washing bowls for the Seder, connecting back to the mirrors donated by the women in the Mishkan—objects once used to build a nation, and treasured precisely for that purpose. The students are already looking forward to using them in the days ahead.
The day concluded with music and dancing—generations together, celebrating what has been built and what still lies ahead.
The Women Who Built Us: Pre-Pesach Programming @ YSZ HS
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