It was a night to remember for every child at Beit Hayeled and every Midreshet AMIT student as the first night of Hanukkah was celebrated in high style with a chaggigah that pulled out all the stops.
The lunchroom was transformed into a blue glittering party room, a professional DJ played music, a dozen different game stations from “Pin the Fire on the Menorah” to “Spin the Dreidel” were set up, there was delicious food, including pizza, falafel, pancakes, and sufganiyot, there was a photo booth with magnet giveaways, spray-art hats, and face painting – just to name a few highlights.
And the gifts? Pretty great prizes were given away, including headphones, backpacks, phone chargers, makeup bags, iPhone cases, and wallets. And even if they didn’t win anything, each Beit Hayeled child left with their own goodie bags and their own hanukkiah.
The upgrade in the festive and well-appointed chaggigah was thanks to Midreshet AMIT parents who generously contributed following AMIT’s Giving Tuesday appeal to fund the Beit Hayeled Hanukkah party. Prior funding for the party had fallen through, and as soon as they were asked, Midreshet AMIT parents came through for the Beit Hayeled children – and came through big.
“This is something our Beit Hayeled children have never experienced for Hanukkah,” said Shirelle Avreky, Beit Hayeled’s eim bayit (house mother) and chesed coordinator for Midreshet AMIT.
“The reason is that we had the budget,” she said. “This was a team-family power effort. Our girls’ parents provided the financial support and the girls provided the manpower. The Midreshet students wanted to create a party that would make the Beit Hayeled children feel special.”
In fact, Evyatar Shaki, director of Beit Hayeled, told Avreky during the party that it was the best that he had seen at Beit Hayeled. “He was very impressed that the Midreshet girls pulled it off,” she said.
As soon as the money came in, the students got busy. They hit the mall to shop for decorations, prizes, and other items needed for the event. The young women were divided into committees and put in charge of different aspects of creating a Hanukkah to remember.
“It also was important that they had the responsibility to create the chaggigah,” said Avreky. “Every single girl prepared and worked. It was very hands-on.”
After the chaggigah, the Midreshet AMIT students, who were joined in the festivities by the sherut leumi (young women doing national service) and the zugot (surrogate parents at Beit Hayeled), said they were very proud and moved by what they had accomplished.
“I really enjoyed the chaggigah because I was able to incorporate my love for art with chesed,” said Midreshet AMIT student Ellie Fried, who took pictures of the event. “I was on the art committee and got to help decorate the room in festive Hanukkah decor. I also got to photograph all the fun we had at the chaggigah.”
Maya Klibanoff, another Midreshet AMIT student said, “It truly breaks my heart to know that every child in Beit Hayeled comes from a broken home. Therefore, Midreshet AMIT worked so hard on the carnival to provide the kids with an escape from their reality. This was such a rewarding experience. As I watched each child enjoy the food, dance to the music, and play the games, I couldn’t help but find myself smiling,” said Maya, who worked on the decorating committee that transformed the white-walled room into a colorful carnival atmosphere. “The chaggigah was certainly something the children do not have often and therefore I really think they enjoyed it.”
The success of the chaggigah and its impact on all involved was echoed by other students.
Elaine Ratner said: “The best part for me was definitely bonding more with my kid and being able to spend more time with him. We got to dance, play games, and just have a fun time. It also allowed everyone at AMIT to bond with the other children at Beit Hayeled. The girls get close to their child, but during the chaggigah, all the kids let loose and just wanted to have fun together.”
Devora Batt, who is in her second year, said: “Being a shana bet, I got to experience two Hanukkah Chaggigahs at Beit Hayeled, and this year’s celebration was beyond incredible. The kids, bnot sherut and Midrasha all had a blast together.”
Georgia Cohn, who hails from Australia, said: “It was so inspiring to see what us girls as a midrasha could put together. It made me realize why volunteering in the Beit Hayeled is so important.”
Samantha Reiz pointed out another special touch that lent poignance to the party. “I really loved how AMIT gave each kid their very own menorah. When someone has their own personal hanukkiah, it makes doing the mitzvah so much more meaningful and exciting. It was such a beautiful celebration that brought out the true essence of the holiday.”
During the Hanukkah Chaggigah, Paola Mattout and Sophie Dahan observed an important shift in their relationships with the Beit Hayeled children.
“We were able to tell that the kids were really enjoying the whole event,” they said. “Kids were constantly pulling us in to dance with them and kept telling us that this was one of their best nights. It really showed the connection we’ve built with our Beit Hayeled kids.”
Photo credit: Ellie Fried
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