Public Speaking Contest Winners' Speeches
We hope you enjoy this selection of several of the wining speeches from the 27th Annual Public Speaking Contest, which are presented here as they were provided to us and in alphabetical order. Thank you to all the students who participated, and to those who shared their speeches with us.
Ava Abramowich | Grade 5 | Vancouver Talmud Torah
Prophetess Devorah
Who do you think was the greatest leader in ancient biblical history? Moses? King David? Abraham? Perhaps Jacob – Nah! Move over boys, I think it’s a girl who takes the prize. Good evening, I’m Ava Abramowich from VTT and I believe, prophetess Devorah, who lived more than 3,000 years ago during the time of the judges, was one of the greatest leaders in the torah. There are three reasons why - her wisdom, her bravery and her positive influence on those around her.
As the only female judge, Devorah was known as a woman of incredible wisdom. As a prophet, she heard the message from God and passed it on. She sat under a palm tree in the hills of Ephraim and the people of Israel flocked to her to settle their difficulties and disputes. She considered the problem and then spoke words of advice. Her words of wisdom and encouragement lifted them out of their despair.
Devorah was not only known for her wisdom, but for her courage and bravery too. In the fourth chapter, of the book Judges, Devorah selects the most able military general, Barak, to lead the charge against a cruel mean King. She tells Barak exactly what he must do. However, he is not willing to fight unless Devorah joins him - brave and fearless - she agrees. In the heat of battle, she cheers him on and guides the badly equipped troops to an incredible victory.
Devorah was a great leader because she had a positive influence on those around her. For twenty years the Jews lived in peace under her leadership. In the midst of sin and idolatry, she remained loyal and true to Judaism. She saw to it - that the Jews remained devoted to God as well. Devorah also composed a beautiful poem about the battle. Her influence on the Jews was so great, that the Song of Devorah was written in the Book of Judges for all generations to read and be inspired.
These are the reasons why I think Devorah wins the leadership prize. She brought liberty to Israel through her faith, courage and boldness. She rose up to lead her nation, inspiring others to follow her faith. Great leaders are wise, strong and brave. They encourage, motivate, and inspire their followers. Devorah does just THIS!
So - who do you think is the greatest Jewish leader?
Have I changed your mind?
Thank you
Riva Berger | Grade 6 | Vancouver Hebrew Academy
Most of you here have seen the sun set. Most of you notice the beauty
But how many of you notice the miracle?
Hello, My name is Riva Berger and I’m in the 6th grade in VHA.
My topic is one many of you see but don’t realize. Well, that’s because I’m talking here tonight about hidden miracles. Quite a few of you know about the Purim miracle, where evil Haman tries to pot against Esther and her people, so Esther and Mordechai jump in to save the day. Or the Passover miracle, where Moses redeems God’s nation But I’m not a talking about those big miracles that you learn in school.
I’m talking about hidden miracles which nobody realizes. I’ll give you an example: Rain. No biggie, right? You can just assume it’s natural and don’t give it another thought. What if rain came down in bucketfulls and not drops? That could cause major damage and maybe even injury.
No one really looks that hard into these minor importances that can keep the world balanced.
We have to be thankful God sends us down rain in drops.
In school, we started learning how to appreciate even the small miracles God gives us. I feel it would be very important for people to be aware of those hidden miracles that are just as important as the big ones. Many people don’t look at their toes to see their different shapes. Don’t toss this miracle aside, thinking it’s not as good as the Passover miracle. If Moses had no toes, it would have been painful for him to lead the Israelites into Redemption. When you see miracles like this, take the opportunity to thank God for all the miracles he gave us, big or small. Thank you for listening and goodnight.
Mendel Bitton | Grade 4 | Vancouver Hebrew Academy
The Jewish AppleWatch
Good evening everyone,
My name is Mendel Bitton, I’m a student at the Vancouver Hebrew Academy. Thank you for allowing me to share this inspiring thought with you, as part of this wonderful speech contest.
As you most probably know, last week, Apple released their latest device: the AppleWatch – a powerful watch with multi-features designed for each and every style.
One feature which I found particularly cool is the ability to send a 'friendly tap' to another AppleWatch owner. Another interesting feature is the ability to send your heartbeat, kind of a way to share your deepest feelings with your loved ones.
Apparently, there was a time when people just spoke to each other; then came the time when people began to 'text' each other; and then we were blessed with a new form of communication: the 'emoji' language! No need to call or write – just send a smiley face and that will do it!
But in 2015 a new era has begun: We are now set to communicate without words or smiley faces – we may now send a 'friendly tap' or even our very own heartbeat!
Well, in fact, the oldest device with the ability to communicate our deepest and purest feelings without words, was invented years ago.
Take a mitzvah, a good deed – whether it is to light the Shabbat candles on Fridays or to affix a mezuza on our door. It is a simple action, beyond words and lengthy emails, which has the ability to communicate with Hashem on the deepest level.
When performing a mitzvah, we have the opportunity to wirelessly connect ourselves to Hashem, and send Him a 'friendly tap' or a heartbeat, a feeling coming from the deepest level of our souls.
Lets then make use of our AppleWatch, and do one extra mitzvah today!
Thank you.
Sarale Bitton | Grade 5 | Vancouver Hebrew Academy
The Jewish Uniform
Good evening everyone,
My name is Sarale Bitton, I’m a student at the Vancouver Hebrew Academy. Thank you for allowing me to share with you the following thought, as part of this wonderful speech contest initiative.
I’d like you to take a moment and imagine the following scenario:
A man walks into the Rogers Arena for the first time in his life. He has never seen a Hockey player or a Hockey game. He doesn’t know what Hockey is or means. He actually doesn’t even know anything about sports for that matter.
He is dressed properly in a nice suit, a tie, and a stylish gray hat. But when he looks around at the fans and at the players, he can’t help but wonder: “What are those uniforms? What are those blue shirts? They are not dressy, nor in fashion and in style? They are strange.”
Now, imagine for a moment that one of the players on the rink, notices this man and his puzzling look. Do you think for a moment that the player might be embarrassed or uncomfortable wearing his Hockey uniform because of that man’s questioning look?
Of course not. It would probably be the opposite. The players would continue to wear their uniforms proudly, knowing what they represent, and feel sorry for that man’s ignorance.
---
We, Jewish girls and boys, have a special uniform. Our Torah tells us that our matriarch Rivkah dressed modestly. In Hebrew this is called “Tznius,” – a unique style that combines both fashion and elegance. Look at Her Majesty the Queen of England, you’ll see what I mean…
Tznius, in fact, is more than elegance: it reflects the inner beauty of the individual.
Jewish boys wear a Tzitzis, a garment made of four corners with fringes attached to each one of them, a reminder of the 613 Mitzvos. They also wear a Yarmulka, or a Kipa. Actually, the word “Yarmulka” is a combination of the Hebrew words “Yirah Malkah,” which means respect and awe for Hashem.
Just like the Vancouver Canucks, we too wear our uniforms, our Jewish uniforms, proudly. And just like that man who had no idea what Hockey was, others may not understand the meaning or the value of our Jewish uniforms. But we know what it means.
It is a special uniform. Let’s wear it proudly!
Thank you.
Yael David | Grade 4 | Talmud Torah
Chase Dodek | Grade 4 | Vancouver Talmud Torah
My speech is about 3 places i would like to visit to
Good evening ladies and gentleman, judges and fellow students. My name is Chase Dodek. I am a grade 4 student at Vancouver Talmud Torah. As some of my friends already know, I would like to visit Israel. Tonight I'm going to tell you which three places I want to visit.
JERUSALEM !!!!!
That is the first place, of course, I'm going to talk about. I chose Jerusalem because it is the capital city of my country and it is very hot there. I’d like to visit the Western wall because it’s the heart of the Jews. I would also like to visit the Israeli Academy of Arts, named Betzalel after the chief architect of the Mishkan. There is lots of awesome food in the restaurants, on the shuk and in the supermarkets. If I were to travel alone, Jerusalem is an incredibly safe city for single travellers. If I went to Jerusalem, I could learn and improve my Hebrew language because I would hear only Hebrew language everywhere. In Vancouver, I go to Schara Tzedeck synagogue. It is very beautiful, but the synagogues in Jerusalem are probably diffrent because they are older than Schara Tzedeck. I could learn about my culture in Jerusalem, and taste new food. The best food in Jerusalem is the falafel, you can put hummus and lettuce, tomato, sauces, and anything else you want in your falafels! If I were in Jerusalem
An hour away is the Dead Sea, which I’d really like to go to because the mud in the water makes your body so soft. Jerusalem is the number one place I’d like to go because of the food, the culture, and because it is the homeland of the Jews.
My other place i would love to fly to is Tel Aviv. In Tel Aviv there are amazing things to do, like go to the beach. I haven’t been to Tel Aviv, but all my friends say that Banana Beach is the best, so I’d like to go there. They also have the old city of Jaffa which is very cool because it is the oldest seaport in the world. This city of Tel Aviv is very modern and new but Jaffa is very old so it is interesting to see them next to each other because they are very different.
My last place I want to see is Haifa. There is beautiful gardens and the plants are very pretty. The Baha’i gardens are apparently outstanding and are probably one of the best gardens in the whole world! One of the best engineering schools is in Haifa, the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. If I were to go to school in Israel, I would pick this school because they offer amazing education, research, and industry. Haifa also has great beaches like Tel Aviv. I would go to Bat Galim beach because it is close to snack bars and playgrounds. I want to go to Haifa because of the very good school and the amazing gardens.
Those are very good places that I would like to go to, and if you haven’t been to any of them, you should visit! Thanks you for listening to my speech.
Avrel Festinger | Grade 7 | Vancouver Talmud Torah
Elie Wiesel once said, “People become the stories they hear and the stories they tell.” I think this quote says an awful lot in the small sentence that it is.
Good evening. My name is Avrel Festinger and I’m a grade 7 student at Vancouver Talmud Torah. This evening I will talk about how stories, and storytelling, connect to Judaism.
“People become the stories they hear and the stories they tell”. Elie Wiesel’s words tell us that we find who we are, in the stories we tell. For me, Judaism, books, writings and stories are a major part of who I am.
Think back to some of the books you’ve read. Many books, and their stories, have one thing in common: morals. Sometimes the moral is hidden; sometimes it is in plain view.
We find many stories with morals in the Torah. Consider Parashat Vayeshev. Joseph’s brothers envy him because he is Jacob’s favorite son. The brothers are extremely jealous and they sell Joseph, but Joseph ends up doing really well as we later find out in Parshat Miketz. The moral of these two Parshiot is that jealousy doesn't get you anywhere. SPOILER ALERT - not only does Joseph become Pharaoh ‘2nd in command’ but the brothers end up really needing Joseph’s help in order to survive.
The stories of the Parshiot are stories that we can relate to. I can easily make a connection between Parshat Vayeshev and my own life: Joseph’s brothers are jealous of him. Well, I get jealous of my siblings and I suspect that I am not the only one who has experienced sibling jealousy.
Storytelling is everywhere. When my family comes home from school or from work, there are always stories like “guess who I saw” or “guess what happened today...”. This is storytelling in a different form. Being Jewish, we tell stories like nobody else. At least in my family, we use our hands, we have very loud voices, and over all we express ourselves very well while telling our family, friends and sometimes random people about our day. Without listening to, and telling stories, we would lose an important way of communicating. I know that texting, snapchat and instagram are great - trust me -but storytelling lets people know things about you on a much deeper level.
So how does this connect to being a Jew? Well, Jews have used storytelling to pass down important facts about our people and religion for generations - remember you can’t text someone 300 years from now about what is happening in your life today. Would there even be a Purim if we didn’t learn the Purim story through Megillat Esther?
If we did not have storytelling in Judaism where would we be? Let’s please never find out.
Thank you
Aaron Guralnick | Grade 4 | Vancouver Talmuh Torah
Make a Jewish Holiday
Good evening Ladies and Gentleman, Judges and Students. I’m Aaron Guralnick and I’m a grade 4 student at Vancouver Talmud Torah. Tonight, I will talk about what new Jewish holiday I would like to add to the Hebrew calendar.
As you might know there are many Jewish Holidays celebrating important events in the history of the Jewish people, like the night when Israeli slaves were freed from Egypt, Passover. Or the day Moses received the Torah, Shavuot. But there just aren’t enough Jewish holidays. Tonight, I’m going to tell you about an event that happened to the Jews but is still not celebrated.
Picture this in your mind; 4 thousand years ago in the desert near Haran, Avraham is alone and then he hears a voice. “Avraham listen to me I’m the G-d of the universe you must follow my instructions. You must believe in only one G-d. You and your wife Sarah must now be called Jews. Go now to the land Israel and live there’. This event was one of the most important things that happens in the Torah. So why don’t we celebrate it? Thats where I come in, I think that this holiday should be celebrated because Avraham became the first Jew and this event later created Judaism. Judaism includes the belief in one G-d.
If I were to create this holiday I would make the date אלול יב because the perek that he converts is the 12th perek lech-lecha so I made the date on the 12th month on the 12th day on the Hebrew calendar. The holiday would celebrate not Avraham becoming a Jew but celebrating Judaism coming to be. The holiday would be called Yom Hayehudim. The way we would celebrate it is by going to synagogue in the morning, to pray to G-d and we would make up special prayers in a special book called a Yehudah, to thank G-d for telling Avraham that there only is and we should only pray to one G-d. In the afternoon we would have a ceremony at someone’s house, someone different each year never someone two years in a row to respect all Jews and everyone would have to wear a kippah to remember how we the Jews came to be. At that ceremony there would also be a lunch with food that looks like its not kosher like turkey bacon or cookies in the shape of a shrimp because when Judaism was created kashrut was not a thing. It only became a thing when Moses received the Torah. At night there would be a costume party where you would have to dress up as a famous Jewish person because we are celebrating Judaism.
I hope you choose to celebrate and have fun on Yom Hayehudim next year.
Thank you for taking the time to listen to my speech.
Ellis Jackson | Grade 4 | Richmond Jewish Day School
A New Jewish Holiday: Yom BonayMikdash
Good evening judges, fellow speakers, and guests. Have you ever thought about creating a new Jewish holiday? There are many holidays on the Jewish calendar including Chanukah, Yom Kippur, and Shavuot. Between Rosh Hashanah and Sukkot, we barely even have school in September! One important event in Jewish history has been left off the lengthy list: the building of the Beit HaMikdash. We have a fast day to remember the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash and it seems only right that we have a day to celebrate the building of it. This holiday would be called Yom BonayMikdash. Translated, it means “Day of Temple Building.”
Yom BonayMikdash, like all other holidays, must have its own traditions and rituals. Some of these traditions are very unique, such as washing our feet as the Kohanim once did in the Beit HaMikdash. Children also enjoy building miniature temples. A single candle is lit to symbolize the one fire in the cloud that guided the Jews through the desert. This candle also symbolizes that there is one G-d. There is another special candle that is simply a wick in oil, to represent burnt offerings. It is a tradition to give twelve small gifts, representing the twelve tribes of Israel.
Yom BonayMikdash has its own special foods. At dinner it is customary to eat beef which represents the animals sacrificed at the temple. Oranges, which are sweet, are eaten to remember the happiness of the Jews when they had the Beit HaMikdash. We also eat grains and other fruits, specifically Israel’s seven species; pomegranates, grapes, dates, figs, olives, wheat and barley. There is a specially decorated Seder plate containing these fruits and grains. The table is adorned with blue or techelet, crimson, and purple linens, representing the colours of the temple veils.
Obviously Yom BonayMikdash will have services and prayers. The section of the Book of Kings where the temple is built is read at services along with pesukim that describe the Mishkan. We would call on the Kohamin to lead the priestly blessings. We also burn incense in the shul, which is another unique tradition to Yom BonayMikdash. The incense includes frankincense, myrrh, saffron, and cinnamon, among others listed in the Tanakh.
As a reminder and celebration of the construction of the Beit HaMikdash, this holiday would be an excellent addition to the Jewish calendar. I think my favourite parts would include the meals and the candle lighting. Thank you for your consideration of Yom BonayMikdash as a new Jewish holiday.
Omer Murad | Grade 4 | Vancouver Talmud Torah
Zac Peter | Grade 4 | Vancouver Talmud Torah
The Iron Dome
Good evening, my name is Zac Peter and I am here to tell you about what I think one of the most important innovations to come out of Israel is in the past 5 years – the Iron Dome.
Everyone, close your eyes and imagine yourself living in Israel. You hear the sound of a siren and you know you only have about 15 seconds to get yourself and your family safely into a bomb shelter. 1, 2, 3, 4 – do you have everyone in sight? 5, 6, 7, 8 Who do you grab first? 9, 10, 11, 12 your little sister, your big brother, your parents……13, 14, 15…are you safely in the bomb shelter with your whole family? You can open your eyes now. Imagine if that happened to you every day?
The Iron Dome was deployed in March 2011 for the first time. It is a mobile all-weather air defense system developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aircraft Industries. The Iron Dome has a radar system that senses when missiles are being shot at Israel and then shoots its own missile to intercept it and shoot it down in mid-air. It is almost like having an invisible shield to protect Israel. Israel reports that the Iron Dome has had 87% success rate.
This is even more amazing when you think that there were over 3000 missiles launched at Israel in the most recent conflict.
A long time ago in 1983 in the United States, there was a president named President Ronald Reagan. President Reagan had a plan called “Star Wars” which had nothing to do with the movie. It was a plan where he dreamed that nations would be able to defend themselves by shooting missiles that would intercept other missiles. At the time, everyone thought President Reagan was dreaming and this could never be done in real life. Now, fast-forward 30 years later and Israel has done it. Israel’s innovation, the Iron Dome, is our Star Wars and we are able to defend ourselves.
Now close your eyes one last time and imagine living in Israel but, this time imagine that when those sirens go off – you know the Iron Dome is there and about to use its power to protect you and your family.
Thank you!
Elliot Pollock | Grade 7 | Vancouver Talmud Torah
Good evening ladies and gentlemen, I am Elliot Pollock and I am a grade seven student at Vancouver Talmud Torah.
Tonight I am here to talk to you about Resiliency and more particularly the profound resilience of the Jewish spirit.
Throughout the Bible, God tests the Jews to overcome difficult times, but nowhere is this more obvious than with Moses in the Book of Exodus. The Jewish People persevered and showed intelligence, strength, persistence and courage. This pattern repeats over and over again throughout our history. How do we as a people continually overcome this adversity? we do it in part by harnessing the strong family and community ties we value so greatly. It has not been been easy, there has been much questioning and doubting but that has allowed us to think out of the box and solve things under pressure. God teaches that the Jews must logically think through problems, adapt and find solutions.
When we were given our own homeland after the Holocaust there was the hope that the Jewish People would be safe and secure. Sadly that has not been the case and Israel remains at risk daily. Israel and her people continue to be resilient problem solvers. Israel’s struggle for survival has demanded an innovative spirit.
As a result, today, Israel is a world leader in technology producing a range of inventions as diverse as:
- Iron Dome in the defence world, shooting down enemy rockets,
- to Re Walk in the futuristic world, allowing paralyzed people to walk again with the assistance of a suit that is not quite Robocop material but cool nonetheless.
The world looks on and wonders how did Israel become this world leader in technology? There are many reasons, including the amazing decision making skills that come from mandatory military service. But I think
- it is the investment in education;
- combined with the creativity honed by centuries of resilience
- & finally the good old jewish “work ethic” battered into every young jew by their moms!
Israel’s success in creating an “innovation based” economy has caught the attention of world leaders and in particular China where the government is investing 130 million dollars to build a Technion Institute of Technology in China! Mr. Li, the funder of this project explained.
“We all know the wands are only as powerful as the wizards who use them, and the magic comes from the genius within.”
I guess Mr. Li is looking for some Israeli magic.
However, I hope that my speech has made it clear that the genius within is actually our resilient spirit!
Shoshana Pollock | Grade 5 | Vancouver Talmud Torah
Good evening ladies and Gentlemen, I am Shoshana Pollock a grade 5 student at VTT . Tonight I would like to discuss with you the importance of kindness - Chesed
It is not only one of our key jewish values but the Talmud says kindness defines the essence of a jew, as much as our faith in G-d.
I would like to tell you about an elderly jewish woman I know.
She lives alone in a small apartment with no family around. Her diabetes makes it so difficult to carry on even the simplest activities. Sure, people around her are aware of her challenges, but its really difficult to find the time, and energy, to give to someone else.
Well - My dad introduced me to that thoughtful women when I was three years old and she's become my dear friend ever since. She was born in Argentina and is so smart. She somehow knows everything about history, art and world events. She also has so much to share with others, inspiring the lives of whoever she meets.
My family and I bring her over for shabbat dinners. We share birthday celebrations, and take her to watch my, dance performances.
From all the time that I've been privileged to enjoy with my friend, I’ve come to understand the life changing impact that kindness can have, and that, every one of us needs and deserves to be loved by someone.
Did you know that carrying out acts of kindness, raises the level of oxytocin in our brains, and that makes us feel happier - this is called the Helper’s High”. Practising kindness has also been shown to lower our blood pressure, protect our hearts, and even slow the aging process.
As well, judaism strongly values kindness. There are 613 Mitzvot discussed through out the Torah, and a great number of those are commanding us to look after our fellow man.
We believe, that God created the world and everything that exists in it to act as a place for kindness to be exchanged between all beings. We believe that god created inequality amongst people, for example, some rich some poor, some healthy some sick, to give us the opportunity to help each other, and so carry out acts of Chesed.
When you do something kind for someone, you feel special inside- even the smallest things count -like holding a door for a friend, even that is a mitzvah, and you are helping to make the world a better place.
Winston Churchill understood the value of chesed, he said: “We make a living by what we get— but we make a life, by what we give.”
Alex Ritch | Grade 5 | Vancouver Talmud Torah
Hello everybody. Today I am going to talk about something very, very, interesting. That thing is history. Now you’re probably thinking: ugh, history, I don’t like that topic. But, to prevent myself from sleeping through my own speech, I am going to make it more exciting, by talking about how the technology we have today, could have changed the course of Jewish history.
So let’s consider what would have happened if our ancestors had iphones.
For example, if Joseph had an iphone he could have called a rescue mission to get him out of jail. Now, that does not seem too bad. An Israelite rescued from the Egyptians! I mean, what’s not to like?
But wait a minute, let’s look a little deeper into this story. If Joseph had been rescued, then Pharaoh would not have had Joseph to interpret his dreams of the coming drought. Without Joseph's leadership in creating storehouses of grain, which led the Hebrews to seek refuge in Egypt, we wouldn’t have gone to Egypt. We wouldn’t have become slaves and we wouldn’t be celebrating Passover. That my friends, is the story of our journey from slavery to freedom and ultimately of our becoming the Jewish nation.
Or, what about this one? What would have happened if Yitzchak had an iphone? He might have called his mom Sarah and said, "Hey mom, what is up with dad? He looks like he wants to kill me, can you come pick me up?" That call to Sarah could have really messed things up because Avraham would not have been tested by Hashem. This test allowed Avraham to prove his faith in Hashem who rewarded him with the promise to make his children into a great nation.
So with these examples, you’ve probably used your noodle, and noticed what I’m getting at. At first glance, it looks like iphones would have helped our ancestors, but when we look more closely, we can see that what we take for granted as everyday technology would have dramatically changed the defining moments of Jewish history. So, next time you take a selfie, think to yourself how you might be changing Jewish history, for better or for worse.
Adin Tischler | Grade 5 | Talmud Torah
My Trip to Israel
Good evening ladies and gentlemen, girls, and boys, and everyone inbetween. My Name is Adin Tischler and I’m in Grade 5 at Vancouver Talmud Torah. I am here tonight to tell you about my trip to Israel that all started on august 2nd 2011 in the very centre of Jerusalem.
We were in the land of milk and honey, the land of our ancestors, the land we call home, Israel, and we had one hell of a good year ahead of us.
When we got to Israel we knew there was one thing we would have to do and that was not unpack our suitcases, or get settled in to our new home, or anything like that. The thing that all my family agreed was the first thing we needed to do was go to gangaroo which in english means kangaroo garden. Gan Garoo is an Australian petting zoo at Kibbutz Nir David. Gan Garoo has some very sleepy koalas that only move about for 5 minutes a day. Does that sound exciting? It actually isn’t, compared to the amazing kangaroos running around freely, to relish and pet. And don’t forget about feeding them, which in my opinion is the most exciting part of all.
The kangaroos eat roo pellets which look like snack you would feed to your pet rat.To feed the kangaroos you put a few roo pellets on your palm. When the kangaroos notice, they go crazy and charge towards you with a large smile on their faces, and cluster around you pleading for food. They will immediately start feeding on their mouthwatering roo pellets with their velvety lips, and slimy tongue. Ya I think Gan Garoo is a must do first.
Do all you guys like the PNE? Who doesn’t? I don’t! Not when there’s Gan Hashashuim Luna Grand Park in Haifa, the best amusement park ever. To get in to Luna grand park you take a large slide. When you slide in you will see everything you have ever wished for right in front of you. Now to show you the insides… I’m guessing you guys have jumped 2 feet or so. I’ve jumped over 5 feet when I was in grade 2. I bet now I could jump 10. Don’t worry you don’t have to call me superman. I was using a mega trampoline which lifts you up. But you still have to use some force. I’m not saying just a random kid can use the mega trampoline. You have to be a bodybuilder with a mammoth six pack, which of course I am. There is also a roller coaster, some awesome bumper cars, and all the other rides that the world’s top amusement parks would have. In Israel there was also an “everyday activity” that was so fun! Actually, I only could call this an everyday activity in Vancouver. But in Israel this is a once in a lifetime experience. That activity is called hockey. Yes, we played hockey in a place called Metulla which is a four hour drive from Jerusalem. On the way we got to eat out at the tastiest restaurant ever in Afula, which some say is the falafel capital of the world. Where, of course I got falafels!
When we got to the hockey rink a lump formed in my gut. I was as scared as a Chihuahua getting chased by an elephant. Actually no way! I was way more scared! There were boys there over 6 feet tall. Which, at the time, was twice my height. But when I stepped on the ice and I got back my confidence. I was like a little rocket zooming past everyone like they were snails.
I hope that after listening to my speech everybody here has learned that Israel is pretty sweet! Thank you very much for staying tuned in and I hope that you guys will remember to go to Israel and mark on your to do list: Gangaroo, Luna park, and of course hockey in Metulla.
Devorah Leah Yeshayahu | Grade 4 | Vancouver Hebrew Academy
Good evening.
My name is Devorah Leah Yeshayahu.
In two weeks we celebrate the holiday of Pesach-Passover.
We all know that Pesach is the Jewish festival that celebrates our freedom from slavery.
But isn’t it strange that we celebrate our freedom from slavery by franticly cleaning for weeks, not eating any chometz, which include a lot of my favorite foods (like pizza), eating simple foods like matzo, and observing a dozen or more extra rules??
What Kind of Freedom is this Anyway?
If being free means doing whatever you want, with no rules or limits whatsoever, then we indeed have a problem.
If I am only free as long as no one tells me what to do and I can follow my every whim and fancy, then being forbidden to eat pizza does indeed take away from my "freedom."
Matza is made of just water and flour – with no yeast to interfere with its natural state.
Judaism defines true freedom as the ability to express who you really are.
The lesson of the matza is to look beyond the distractions, to focus on what is real and true. G-d is reminding us that freedom is the clarity to know what we really want – to try remove outside influences and listen to our soul.
The Torah is the instruction manual to our souls. All the rules are only there to allow us to tap in to our inner self. Because sometimes it is only through proper boundaries that our true self can come out.
For example, what if I got a fancy new computer for my birthday. I would be silly to resent the huge book of rules instructing me how to use it.
Only a fool would say – it’s MY computer – I should be able to do with it whatever I want, who are you to tell me what to do?
If I want to take it swimming with me, I should be able to make that choice. Don’t tell me not to immerse it in water!
And why would you suggest that I need to download updated software? Why should I have to read the instructions at all?
They are sooo boring!
But it is obvious to us that in order to have the computer work for us, we need to follow certain rules and advice. These rules are not there to make our life miserable, on the contrary, they are there to help us get the most out of the computer.
Through the observance of Pesach, G-d is teaching us an eternal lesson of what true freedom means. Freedom does not mean I can do whatever I want, whenever I want, however I want.
True freedom means that my life and every aspect of it is an expression of my truest inner self. I am not enslaved to my bad habits, pressure from other people, guilt, or envy.
To be free we must look within and get to know who we are.
To be free we must allow our souls to be heard. Thank you.
Menachem Yeshayahu | Grade 6 | Vancouver Hebrew Academy
Good evening my name is Menachem Yeshayahu from Hebrew Academy. I would like to start with my favourite prayer. Traditionally we say this prayer first thing in the morning. Modeh anee lefanecha melech chai vekayam, she-he-chezarta bee nishmatee b’chemla, raba emunatecha. I offer thanks to You, living and eternal King, for You have mercifully restored my soul within me; Your faithfulness is great. I would like to address you all with one simple question that comes to mind. Why is thank you the first thing we say in the morning?
Judaism teaches us that every day is a new beginning. Every day brings new opportunities, new challenges and it’s up to me to choose whether to confront them and learn new things from the challenges, or ignore them and miss those opportunities. How can I be the one that doesn’t miss opportunities and does not avoid challenges and be eager to learn new things? The modeh ani is the motivational prayer that is the fuel to get through the days challenges. It is an essential statement for living each day to my fullest potential. Knowing that G-D returns my soul to me every day, my soul consists of my own unique personalities, such as skills and talents that G-D gave me that will affect my life.
It’s told that Rabbi Yisrael Salanter zt"l once noticed an elderly shoe-maker working late into the night by the light of a small flickering flame. Reb Yisrael approached him and after engaging in conversation eventually he registered his criticism. The old Jew understood that it looked as if his work had overtaken his life but he answered back and said, "As long as the candle is burning there's still time to work and repair!"
When Reb Yisrael heard these words they went into his heart like an arrow. Here he came to give rebuke and he was struck with such powerful words. He was pacing in his room for a few weeks afterwards crying and repeating the words, "As long as the candle is burning there is still time to work and repair."
He understood that just like the candle, as long as we are alive, we have time to get things done and fix what needs to be repaired.
This is the best way to start the day, by acknowledging the life force G-D renews within us each morning. Reminding ourselves of this potential inspires us to turn challenges into opportunities, and not to be afraid of any difficulties that come our way. G-d gives us the tools we need to fix them. Every moment I breathe I am alive. I offer thanks to G-D for giving me a life of opportunities and challenges, and giving me tools to guide myself.
This is the message of modeh ani. I need to bring this fundamental understanding to my consciousness. Every moment I’m burning, I’m alive I can repair what’s broken I can get stuff done and overcome challenges. It’s a concept that I need to constantly remind myself in order to live a life of meaning and accomplishment which is the key to live a happy life.
Thank you.