The students of AMIT Karmiel Junior and Senior High School organized a special day of chesed recently to honor an alumnus of the school, Shimon Dayan, z”l, who was killed in the deadly Mount Carmel forest fire in 2010.
As a way to pay tribute to the memory of Shimon, z”l, the students went to nursing homes, kindergartens, and to nonprofits for the needy and for those with intellectual disabilities. They played music and sang, staged plays, and volunteered their time during the Hanukkah break.
They also visited the local fire station, police department, and Magen David Adom branch and distributed the candle-lighting blessings they prepared to commemorate Shimon, z”l.
During the first night of Hanukkah, the students took part in Shimon’s yahrzeit at the local cemetery.
The chesed-rich memorial to Shimon, z”l, underscored a primary Jewish value that AMIT schools teach its students – to give to your fellow, to give to the community, and to honor the departed by doing acts of goodness and kindness.
The chesed done on behalf of Shimon, z”l, had a profound impact on the students.
Dana M., who visited the nursing home, said: “In our day-to-day lives, we don’t always get the opportunity to meet those who are a little different from us. I was able to see how happy our visit made them. When you give of yourself, you also get something in return.”
Hallel, another student who went to the nursing home, said the day of chesed gave her new insight into what is really meaningful in life. “I gained a lot and learned from the life experiences of those I spoke with at the nursing home,” Hallel said. “They asked us to come back, and we will gladly do that.”
Before they embarked on their day of chesed, the students met with David, the father of Shimon, z”l, who told them about how modest and thoughtful his son was. The students watched a short film about the Carmel disaster, the deadliest fire in Israel’s history, which claimed 44 lives. They also split into smaller groups to learn about the values that characterized Shimon, z”l.
Guy Dekel, AMIT Karmiel’s principal, was appreciative for the opportunity to honor a former student and thanked Shimon’s father for helping keep his memory alive at the school. “Our students really got to express the essential character traits
