Breakfast consisted of blue and white sheet cake, after which the entire school watched a film of HaChrazat Medinat Yisrael, Ben Gurion’s proclamation of the establishment of the State of Israel.  The film was accompanied by a one man show featuring Rabbi David Goldfischer as David Ben Gurion in which he considered the issues surrounding the writing of the Megilat HaAtzmaut, the Declaration of Independence.   Then, to help the student body further appreciate the meaning of the day, the Rabbis presented a four part program which explained the four different kibbutz galiyot, the ingathering of exiled Jews from the four corners of the world.

In the library, the program focused on voluntary Aliyah throughout Jewish history. Teachers played the roles of famous olim, immigrants to Israel, such as Nechemia and Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi as they explained these famous Jews’ journeys to Israel.  The performance was followed by a moving video from Nefesh B’Nefesh, an organization that promotes aliyah and provides assistance to new olim.

In the music room, Rabbi Dr. John Krug, Dean of Student Life and Welfare, told the story of a delegation of 12 Frisch students and 4 faculty members whom he led on a mission to Soviet Russia to meet with and support Refuseniks.  Refuseniks were Jews in Russia who risked their lives by applying for permission to move to the State of Israel, and attempting to practice Jewish customs despite the anti-Semitic laws enacted throughout their country.  Jews were not allowed to gather in groups, practice Judaism publicly or learn Hebrew.  Refuseniks who were caught defying these restrictions were imprisoned in Siberia and other Soviet jails.  The Frisch delegation provided both material and spiritual support for the Refuseniks; they brought them food, learned and davened with them. After many years, nearly all the Refuseniks who met with the Frisch delegation eventually found their way to the State of Israel.

In another session in the cafeteria, Rabbi Jonathan Shachter reinforced the idea that without a Jewish State the Jews would have nowhere to go in times of trouble.  He highlighted this point by showing a clip from the holocaust movie, Schindler’s List.  In the scene, the Jews liberated by Soviet forces were left with nowhere to go.   Fleeing from Europe’s widespread anti-Semitism, many of these Jews made there way to the land of Israel.  In addition, Rabbi Schachter explained how the establishment of the State of Israel was connected to a prophecy found in Sefer Yishayahu.

The final session, held in the beit midrash, focused on Operation Solomon, the 1991 rescue operation during which more than 14,000 Ethiopian Jews were brought to Israel in just 36 hours.  These Jews had been dreaming for generations about the time when they would be brought back to the land of Israel, and with the help of the Israeli government, their dream was finally realized.

After the sessions, the entire student body was invited to the gym for a chagigah filled with dancing and singing.  This was followed by a true Israeli celebration – a barbecue, courtesy of the Frisch Parents Association, on the softball field.