Gifts

The Naomi Houllou A”H Ladies Auxiliary held a fun and meaningful event every month of 2023.

The Naomi Houllou A”H Ladies Auxiliary planned a multitude of well-loved events for students and parents. Here is a roundup of almost all of the great activities, led by Ladies Auxiliary Co-Presidents Esther Mishan and Sarah Chalouh, with the help of dozens of parents.

January

Fathers and father figures volunteered at the Elementary School lunchroom on January 2nd for Dads Do Lunch to hand out lunch and sell snacks to Lower and Middle School students. With strong teamwork, they provided all the children with their delicious meals. They said Birkat Hamazon with the children before the students went back to class.

February

Students participated in a delicious medley of activities at the annual Tu B’Shvat Fair. The brightly decorated room had multiple bicycles that students needed to pedal in order to blend the ingredients to make smoothies. Other children created their own fruit kebabs and made their way around the “Beracha Bar,” testing all of the different dried fruits that were on display while checking off cards making sure to hit each and every beracha. After completing the berachot, students redeemed their cards in exchange for a fruit-themed keychain.

Early Childhood students dug for vegetables in sensory bins, chopped fruit with safety knives and decorated a mini tree. The event was spearheaded by parent Robin Rahmey.

Creative Corner, a new event spearheaded by Ms. Marlene Stern and Ms. Limor Madeb, gave students the opportunity to get their creative juices flowing by partaking in various art projects including Build-a-Bear, Legos, Model Magic, bracelet beading and accessory decorating.

March

More than 25 vendors came to the Elementary School for a Purim Pop-Up event to sell mishloach manot and other Purim-related products. Fourth graders determinedly packaged and sold mishloach manot as a chesed initiative, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Michael Kameo Foundation. The day also featured a costume “mommy and me” class with Ms. Racquel Sutton, a meaningful shiur led by Middle School Mashgiach Ruchani Rabbi Ikey Tawil highlighting the greatness of Malkat Esther, and cooking demonstrations by Ms. Sarah Hanan, Ms. Julie Ebani, Ms. Lauren Bibi and Ms. Marjorie Eida.

Later in March, the annual Haircuts for Chesed event turned the multi-purpose room into a full beauty salon. Over 30 girls, as well as several of the girls’ mothers, donated their hair to help make wigs for cancer patients at Zichron Menachem in Israel. Head of Elementary School Rabbi Yahel Tsaidi and faculty member Mrs. Rachelle Tawil addressed the Middle School girls with heartfelt messages about chesed and sacrifice. It was truly inspiring to see the willingness of those who participated in this tremendous mitzvah.

April

First grade students participated in a special challah bake to benefit Sephardic Bikur Cholim (SBH), coordinated by the Naomi Houllou A”H Ladies Auxiliary Heart of Gold Committee. SBH representative Julie Cohen spoke to the children about the meaning of chesed. Ms. Aliza Salem, mother of first grade student Mia, shared her baking tips and explained the steps of baking challah. The mitzvot and berachot were made for the refuah shelemah of Chaya Sara bat Simcha and Rut Frieda bat Debbie

May

The Naomi Houllou A”H Ladies Auxiliary Annual Edith Wachsman Memorial Bake Sale and Chinese Auction was held at the beautiful home of Adele and Louis Shamie. Speakers included JBHS Dean of Students Rabbi Naftali Besser, Testament Beauty’s Sophia Chabbott, parenting coach Tammy Sassoon and JBHS Associate Principal Esther Hidary. The Flatbush Family enjoyed a tea-themed afternoon complete with a delicious lunch, incredible baked goods, portraits by photographer Shelly Schmool, and coffee from Crawford’s.

ALUMNI: Sarah (Shamah) Chalouh (ES '01, HS '05) • Marjorie (Dweck) Eida (ES '98 HS '02)

Keren (Pardes) Kameo (ES ‘06, HS ‘10) • Esther (Hanon) Mishan (ES '01, HS '05)

Stephanie (Sutton) Mosseri (HS '96) • Robin (Chalme) Rahmey (ES ‘07, HS ‘11) Adele (Greenberg) Shamie (ES ‘02, HS ‘06) • Louis Shamie (HS ‘02) Marlene (Levy) Stern (ES ‘99, HS ‘03)