With the beginning of the school year being so close to the High Holidays, Shirley Agiv of AMIT Sutker Renanim needed a creative way to guide her students. The goal was to encourage them to think about always helping those around them – including those in their very own classroom.
Agiv remembered that one of the teachers had brought a small container of school supplies to the teacher’s room and included a note on it saying contents were in memory of her beloved father and were for anyone who needed to borrow supplies. “I thought about how this was such a simple act that showcases the basic and ever-important value of caring about those around you,” she describes.
Shirley came up with the idea of utilizing an empty set of shelves in her classroom, creating a similar Gmach for students both in her specific classroom and throughout the school. Together with her students, they decided to dedicate the Gmach in memory of Rav Ronen Neuwirth, who passed away on Erev Pesach. His daughter, Odaya Neuwirth, is a student in Shirley’s class. They felt this dedication was appropriate since Rav Ronen was a very involved father who made an impact on Odaya on every level; academically, socially, and emotionally.
“During his life, he worked to build connections and bridges between Jews of all types,” Agiv adds. “The Gmach helps everyone, no matter their background, socioeconomic or religious level. Everyone contributes and everyone benefits.” Students and their parents take part in the Gmach’s lesson by contributing a lot of supplies for distribution. Odaya Neuwirth shared: “The fact that the Gmach is in memory of my father is very moving and meaningful to me. I am happy that it helps my classmates and it makes me feel really good.”
Ofra Peer, school Principal, said: “AMIT Sutker Renanim is one big family. This can be seen through the Gmach which incorporates values of giving and of family, by helping all students and memorializing Odaya’s father, Rav Ronen. I am happy that our students are involved in chessed and can bring these values to many other areas”.
