The fourth grade class and their teacher Rabbi Avraham Varnai of the Chicago Cheder raised thousands of dollars for toys for children in Eretz Yisroel and built a menorah representing their gifts.
The fourth grade class and their teacher Rabbi Avraham Varnai of the Seymour J. Abrams Cheder Lubavitch Hebrew Day School of Chicago, IL, held a special fundraising campaign in honor of Chanukah.
They raised thousands of dollars which will be sent to Chabad’s Terror Victims Project and other organizations in Israel, to buy gifts and toys for children in Israel affected by the war.
On Thursday the 7th day of Chanukah, close to 500 people gathered in the school’s auditorium to honor the 4th grade students for their Chessed project and to light a special Menorah representing the gifts that the children in Israel will be receiving.
Shneur Zalman Mazal, one of the 4th grade students, was visiting relatives in Israel when the war broke out. “Boruch Hashem we made it back safely to Chicago but I knew I wanted to do something for the people of Eretz Yisroel. So when my class came up with this idea, I called all my family and friends to help and I was so happy that everyone donated.”
“The school is so proud of the 4th grade effort! It was very impressive to observe how much they fundraised and accomplished in such a short period of time,” Rabbi Varnai said.’
During the Menorah lighting event, the students heard how special and important it is to add in light and kindness during these trying times, and how their acts of Chessed brings about unity and brightens the world around us.
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