[COMMUNICATED] Before Rosh Hashana, every one of the thousands of Shuvu students throughout Israel received a colorful brochure explaining the Mitzvah of Tekias Shofar and its importance. The children were told that anyone who would bring back the brochure after Rosh Hashana signed by a parent confirming that they went to Shul and heard Shofar, would receive their choice of six valuable prizes. The choices included a leather-bound Chumash, candlesticks for Shabbos, a Shofar, a day trip to Yerushalayim – and various games.
There was also space on the brochure for each child to note who came with him to Shul, and the emotions felt as they were Mekayem this Mitzvah.
One cannot help but smile and feel a heartwarming sensation seeing the young children’s beautiful responses. To just state a few:
Daniel Stein from the Shuvu Natzeret School wrote: “It is fun to be Mikayem Mitzvos. I sensed a feeling of renewal, a fresh start.”
Tal Rozin wrote: I went to the Beit Knesset and when I heard the Shofar I regretted some not-such-good things I had done over the course of the year.”
Natali Niazov from the Shuvu Lod School wrote: “When I heard Shofar I felt fear in my heart and I trembled. I then accepted a Kabbalah upon myself.” She did not state what her Kabbalah was but it might be connected to her choice of a prize: she chose the candlesticks.
1st grader Netanel Yakobov wrote: “I went to Shul with my Abba, and we Davened together. Abba bought a pomegranate for the meal. I heard Shofar and then I went with him to a Torah Shiur.”
5th grader Orly Maskayov wrote that she left to Shul with her parents and grandparents at 5:00 am!
Uriel Aminov: “It was very exciting to see everyone dressed in white and standing silently during Shofar.”
Yossi Chudaintov wrote simply, “I just feel good being in a Beit Knesset”.
Many, many children stated how excited they were to hear Shofar. Some called the experience “fun”. Most referred to it as emotional. Undoubtedly, no one, child nor adult remained unmoved.
Thousands of Jewish children heard Shofar this year thanks to Shuvu. Adding the fathers who joined, the mothers, the siblings and the grandparents, and one begins to fathom what a great Zechus this was.
Interestingly, the overwhelming majority of the children chose the Judaica as their prize, over the games. “I feel that a Jewish home should have a Shofar”, said 4th grader Danny Cahanov from the Shuvu Ashkelon School, explaining his choice.
Shuvu is now trying to raise the funds in order to distribute thousands of sets of Daled Minim to its students before Sukkos. Quite a few of the the older students (and some parents too) have already approached their teachers concerned, asking whether Shuvu would be giving out sets this year too. They so want to be Mikayem this precious Mitzvah too!
