In the morning, we gathered at the school, and some of us shared stories about our Bat/Bar Mitzvah with younger children. Emma, Em, and Vanda actively participated in the morning tfiloh, and they did very well. Then, we attended various classes again, including an art class where we could paint or string beads to music of our choice, relaxing and getting ready for “student teaching.” After an excellent lunch, the second round of “student teaching” took place, this time for the 8th grade. We then took the yellow school bus to the Westchester County courthouse, where we spoke with legislator Vedat Gashim and CEO of the Westchester Jewish Council Elliot Forchheimer. Next to the courthouse is the Holocaust Memorial, where we received a quick lecture from Millie Jasper before heading to the train station, which took us to Grand Station. From there, we walked to the subway station and traveled to 50th Street to visit Borough Park in Brooklyn. It was a fascinating experience for everyone, as it’s predominantly a Jewish neighborhood with kosher shops, kosher phone booths, and stores full of Hasidic hats. Many of us enjoyed kosher bagels for 65 cents and shopped at “Kosher Discount.” Overall, the neighborhood felt like a slice of Jerusalem. As we made our way back through bustling New York, it started to snow, and everyone marveled at the glowing skyscrapers. We bid farewell at the White Plains train station and returned to our host families to recharge for the next day.
~Alma, Hanna & Elektra
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