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TORAH OUTREACH PROGRAM REACHED THE NEWS!

Rosh Hashana 2019 preparation🍎🍯

Last two brachos partys

9/3/19 Brachos party

TOP 1st,2nd,3rd BRACHOS PARTY!!

We had the first three of our Bracha parties this week. It was beautiful to see what people remembered from their childhood. Almost everyone remembered Borei Pri Hagafen, and one resident was so excited to recite Hamotzei Lechem Min Haaretz. When I asked her how she knew that, she said she remembers it from when she was a child. There was one woman that I always tried to get her to come to my class despite the advice of some of the participants of the program. They insisted that she wasn't Jewish and I was wasting my time. I helped her through the first two words of the Bracha and she was able to say the rest by herself with a smile and a sense of pride! Thank you to our sponsors thus far, and may all the Brachos and Amainim that were said on behalf of their dedications be Malitzie Yosher for them. There are still seven more Bracha parties! You can still sponsor and give names for Refuos, Yeshuos, and Shidduchim. Just go to our website click the button and specify names and needs for Tefilos

9/2/19 4th Bracha party!!

Students birthday celebration

Frieda celebrated her 100th birthday at a Kosher restaurant in West Palm Beach, together with her family and friends. Both daughters and many of her grandchildren, and great grandchildren were there. She also received letters of congratulation from Senator Marco Rubio and President Trump! The following week we made our own little TOP party. Frieda is an inspiration for all of us!

Better Together Final Presentation 2019:

This past week we had a bittersweet day in the Peninsula ALF, when Mrs. Bodkins and the Sha’arei Bina girls gave their final presentation of the year. Rabbi Bodkins represented the residents by thanking Mrs. Bodkins and her girls for their efforts. He also connected the event to Shavuos when he explained that these girls are showing how the Mesorah from Sinai lives on in these girls who come to the seniors to teach them about their heritage. The girls wrote Haiku poems and created artwork with their partners. Some of the girls spoke about how they not only gave to the program but also gained so much from the program as well.

Top Shavout 2019

As we continue our discussions about Sefiras Haomer, we talked about the tragedy that took place during this time with the death of the 24,000 students of Rebbi Akiva. We discussed ways of applying the lesson into our own lives and how it applies to our preparation for receiving the Torah. This week, we had another visit from Mrs. Bodkins and the 9th grade of Sha’arei Bina at one of our facilities. Mrs. Bodkins taught how Mt. Sinai was covered in flowers after the Torah was given and how we put flowers in our homes and synagogues in remembrance of that. Afterwards, the girls paired up with their partners and painted flower pots, and planted flowers inside.

Top Pesach 2019
The TOP program was amazing! Mrs. Bodkins and her Sha’arei Bina girls reminisced with residents about their Pesach memories.The week before Pesach we held several model Seders which encouraged the residents that they can do it on their own. We also heard from residents who still remember Mah Nishtana in Hebrew, English, and even in Yiddish.Finally, we had our Chol Hamoed Brunch hosted by the Bodkins family, featuring Rabbi Bodkins' famous Matzah Brie. We watched a movie clip entitled, From the Bottom of the Red Sea, which showed there is still wreckage from the Egyptian chariots that chased the Jewish people after Hashem had split the sea.

Reminiscing about Pesach with Shaarei Bina girls

Model Seder 2019

Pesach Brunch 2019

Top giving out Mishloach Manos

Purim Mishloach Manos Making 2019!

Mishenichnas Adar Marbim Besimcha!
Mrs. Bodkins and her Sha’arei Bina girls did it again by bringing an early Purim to the Peninsula ALF with Mishloach Manos. Before the girls came, Rabbi Bodkins taught the reason behind the Mitzvah of Shalach Manos and its details. As soon as the girls arrived, they paired up with the residents, decorated Mishloach Manos baskets, and filled them with Hamentachen and other goodies. Afterwards, every resident pulled a name of another resident out of a basket and gave their Shalach Manos to them. It was a beautiful experience and everyone enjoyed it.