HAFTR Highlights

Helping Shalva, going to AIPAC, celebrating Purim, understanding DNA

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An activity-packed month kept the students and faculty busier than ever at the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway High School. From celebrations on Long Island to trips across the world, students have gotten involved while expanding their minds and enjoying themselves.

Select students from each grade flew to Israel to represent HAFTR in the Jerusalem Marathon and to support Shalva, a nonprofit organization aimed at helping families with special needs children.

The students joined their peers from other countries, including Canada and England. An amazing concert by the Shalava band, performing both English and Hebrew music, highlighted the first night.

Before the charity marathon run, the students met with children from Shalva, listened to motivational speeches and enjoyed a pasta party. After the 5K and 10K runs, HAFTR participants relaxed during a Sabbath that included praying at the Western Wall. The delegates also took a tunnel tour and visited a Jerusalem marketplace.

Also in March, some HAFTR students traveled to Washington, D.C. for the annual American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference. AIPAC is a bipartisan organization that aims to protect and promote the U.S. and Israel relationship. At the morning sessions, students listened to speeches from Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY).

Later in the day, other sessions geared towards high school students focused on how to be an active member of the U.S. government and how to oppose movements such as Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions.

The AIPAC village had booths showcasing new Israeli start-up companies and their innovative products. Students came home feeling not only more informed about the Israel-Palestinian conflict, but also motivated to take part in helping our country.

Back at HAFTR, the Purim holiday spirit was evident throughout the school. Students dressed as bunnies, robots and even President Trump roamed the halls, hoping to the win the costume contest. Hypnotist Ronnie Baras picked various students to join him on stage for his show.

Under a trance, students acted like teachers, and even thought they were Esther and Haman, the hero and villian, respectively from the Purim story, which had the whole school engulfed in laughter.

The students also had an opportunity to help pack Mishloach Manot gifts for poor and needy families. All in all, everyone was left feeling happy, fulfilled, and stuffed with hamantaschen — the perfect combination!

The Advance Placement biology junior class visited the famed Cold Spring Harbor DNA Laboratory and spent the day acting as real scientists. A DNA expert educated the students on genetic engineering and its various practices.

Then, students got the opportunity to engage in hands-on work in the lab with real DNA and equipment, using techniques such as gel electrophoresis and heat shock.

They also toured the lab and witnessed scientists at work, sorting through DNA, and testing actual blood samples for various diseases. It was a great learning experience and showed the students what may be in their genetic future!

An exciting month for HAFTR High School students kept us busy and engaged, and while also looking forward to what the remainder of this school year will have in store.