Stories @ CSI

On Sunday, October 16, the Machaneh Shai community participated in a lovely ceremony to dedicate their school and to hang a mezuzah on the newly renovated Education building. Up until that point, Machaneh Shai had been having class either outside or scattered throughout the 1180 building. The students and their families had an opportunity to share in the joy of being brought back into their learning space.

וְעָ֥שׂוּ לִ֖י מִקְדָּ֑שׁ וְשָׁכַנְתִּ֖י בְּתוֹכָֽם׃

V’ Asu li mikdash, v’shacanti b’tocham. I will make for you a holy place and I will dwell among them. The students create this holy space of Jewish learning by spending time inside with their teachers, as they learn Jewish values and the continuing story of our people. Rabbi Kaiman spoke about dwelling in a holy place, and all the learning that will be done inside. We sang “Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary” as we gathered. Rabbi Helfand shared some Torah  and then invited Nancy Gorod, Director of Congregational Learning, and Melanie Levs, Chair of the Jewish Learning Committee to hang the mezuzah, as we recited the blessing for this special occasion.

We then proceed upstairs to look at the classrooms. The students showed pride in their spaces and were anxious to get back into their classrooms.