This year, elementary students in Beis Chaya Mushka Crown Heights learned the 12 Pessukim in-depth, through original curricula, songs, crafts, and games. The 12 Pessukim “theme” began as part of the worldwide shturem for 50 years since Mivtza Chinuch, and Beis Chaya Mushka is planning on taking this koch to the next level, with a Pessukim-based Middos program for the following school year and beyond!

The learning didn’t start in the classroom. Every Monday, initiated by Morah Miriam Laufer, BCM teachers would gather for a weekly Shiur to learn about the Pessukim directly from Der Rebbe Redt Tzu Kinder, and to farbreng about how to bring it to life for their students.

The learning didn’t stay in the classroom. The students lived, breathed, and used the Pessukim to help them in their daily lives. A parent shared: “One morning, my daughter came over to me and said excitedly, ‘I was having a hard time putting on my tights, they weren’t going on. But then I sang the Yogati song, and then they went on!” Teachers shared how students connected their classroom learning to the 12 Pessukim, and would constantly sing the Pessukim while in any free moment.

To culminate this year of learning, the students, guided by their dedicated Mechanchos, prepared an outstanding expo and performance to bring the Pessukim to life. Mothers, sisters, friends, and visitors got a chance to absorb the 12 Pessukim in a way they never did before!

Yud Beis Pessukim posters graced the hallway walls, while the classrooms were filled with decorations, artwork, special effects and interactive activities to bring across the messages of the Pessukim.

Kitah Alef presented Torah and Breishis. Visitors walked into a “world” filled with water and grass, with sounds of chirping birds and flowing water. They got to play “I-Spy” to find images connected to both Pessukim, and saw the girls’ artwork displayed. It was extra special for the Kitah Alef girls to present these Pessukim- after learning Sheishes Yemei Breishis and Hilchos Brachos in school this year, their Pessukim directly tied in, and their exhibit included classroom bulletins from the school year.

Kitah Beis presented Shema and Veshinantom. Their exhibit included 3D elements as a translation and explanation of the words in their Pessukim. The detail and talent were seen in every aspect- from the mentchies learning in a Chabad house, to the 7 heavens and 1 earth connected to the Ches hanging from the ceiling!

Kitah Gimmel presented Bechol and Yogati. Their exhibit featured a pyramid backdrop, with pictures of every girl leaving Miztrayim, and a 3D classroom, with students working hard and succeeding. To connect both Pessukim, visitors were given the opportunity to break through an obstacle course. After working hard and succeeding to break free, they were awarded with a medal!

Kitah Daled presented Kol Yisroel and Ve’ahavta. Visitors got a chance to walk through a garden of Hashem’s plants- us!- and pick a candy off the Moshiach tree! They also got to give and take a heart-shaped kind note from the Ve’ahavta wall, while enjoying the other Ve’ahavta decorations.

Kitah Hei presented Ki Karov and V’zeh. A heart, hand, and mouth hanging from the ceiling each displayed the Mitzvos we do בְּפִיךָ וּבִּלְבָבְךָ לַעֲשׂוֹתוֹ. Visitors stepped into a life-size home to find out how to make Hashem’s Dirah B’tachtonim.

Kitah Vov presented Vihinei and Yismach. Their Vihinei exhibit included a royal throne room- designed from start to finish by the students! Their Yismach display included Hashem’s home, a shelf of Mitzvos, and lots of smiley faces! Everyone got a Yismach cookie before leaving the room.

In every room, girls collected one charm that represents the Possuk they experienced. The girls finished the expo with a full collection of 12 beads to make a Pessukim bracelet.

After the expo, parents and guests gathered for a performance.

Rabbi Levi Plotkin, dean of Beis Chaya Mushka, spoke about the power of the 12 Pessukim, and the importance of the day of Gimmel Tammuz as “Ischalta Degeulah”, even though we have not yet merited to see it b’gashmius.

Beis Chaya Mushka principal, Mrs. Rochie Sandhaus shared about what was done in school throughout the year to live with the 12 Pessukim each day.

The performance featured the students singing original Yiddish songs with the toichen of their Pessukim. With costumes, motions, and dances to match the song, the messages of the 12 Pessukim were made real to everyone attending. A mother mentioned, “I’m so grateful to be here so I could tune into Gimmel Tammuz, this is such a gift for the parents.”

The day culminated with a special keepsake given to everyone- a Yud Beis Pessukim magnet to take the inspiration and pride with them.

Thank you to Tzivos Hashem Base Commander Mrs. Mushka Lishner for spearheading the Pessukim program throughout the year and bringing the expo and performance from concept to fruition. Thank you to all the staff and volunteers who made the event possible!

The Beis Chaya Mushka Pessukim curriculum is available free of charge at 12pessukim.org

To download the PDF of Yiddish songs, click here.

To contribute towards the costs of professional Kol Ish recordings of the songs, please Zelle [email protected] and write “for Pessukim songs” in the memo. Thank you for helping us spread the Rebbe’s message!