Every year, we all enjoy the little pleasures of Chanukah: decorating our homes, preparing special meals, buying presents for our loved ones… But there is more to this holiday than exchanging gifts, spinning dreidels and eating more latkes than we should. Chanukah reminds us how important it is to achieve the dreams we set for ourselves and do everything in our power to get there. It reminds us each year to bring light to the darkness.
During her life, Eva Weil Z”L, thought Negba’s children that very lesson, by giving them a special gift – teaching English and math as a volunteer, she showed the children how knowledge, together with the thrill of learning, could help them overcome challenges through their lives.
This is why, every year for Chanukah, we offer a prize in her name, to reward the children who showed their commitment to the projects and activities they are able to participate in through Negba.
Given the particular context of this year, we decided, with Jeremy, Eva’s husband, to form a competition between the different groups and award prizes to the kids that excel.
The announcement of the competition exited the children, who invested their time and efforts to achieve the best possible results. They met after school every day to regularly participated in the computer math program, respecting the rules, in a pleasant and cheerful atmosphere.
Moreover, the children built together a “green” menorah from recycled materials, showing they learned an important lesson: shine a light of hope with a flame everyone deemed useless – just like the menorah used by the Maccabees many years ago…
The jurors visited the different groups during the 3 weeks of this competition, as to make sure the children abode by all the rules set for them.
Every group was invited to proudly present the menorahs they built. The votes where finally revealed on the final night of Chanukah and the winners were announced. Every group got the chance to light their menorahs, while describing the process of building them, and what they were able to achieve through this experience.
Congratulations to the children of the Geffen group who achieved outstanding results and managed to get first in the competition! For their hard work, they obtained not just chocolate coins, but actual Chanukah gelt with a prize of 1,000 NIS. Also, to the children of the Aviv group, who obtained a prize of 800 NIS, and the Noam group, with a 600 NIS reward.
Every group was nonetheless a winner and scored a 150 NIS prize each for their hard work and commitment.
With the money won, they will be able to enjoy an activity of their choice, such as various workshops, outdoors activities, boarding games and much more.
Chanukah means “dedication” in Hebrew. Needless to say that the children, by showing their dedication to their work, learned that you can achieve wonderful things by working together and challenging each other.
In these troubled days, this Chanukah has thus been particularly magical, thanks to all the children of Negba. Thanks to the staff of Negba and the volunteers. Thanks to you our wonderful donors.
For it is only your donations and participation in our organization that makes it all possible.
Learn more about Negba and all the ways you can contribute here.
