Tefillah Program Continues to Grow

By Pauly Raskin ‘27
The new school year at Golda Och has brought about many new changes, including developments in the tefillah program.

This year's schedule change was developed in an attempt to fit the needs and wants of the students, giving them the option to choose between meditation tefillah, art tefillah and traditional tefillah for the first four days of the school week. 
Also included in the tefillah schedule was the re-implementation of Zman Kodesh on Friday mornings during the first period under the leadership of Rabbi Goldman. 
Zman Kodesh is similar to last year’s Friday morning tefillah: it is a time to celebrate student and teacher achievements from the past week, news about holidays and club events. Concluding Zman Kodesh, Mr. Richman leads the upper school in a song. The GOA community comes together on Friday mornings with slight but impactful alterations. Rabbi Goldman has added a more celebratory atmosphere as students end each week. 
Senior Noah Hazan said, “Since we have started Tefillah Shleimah, I feel like I have gotten closer to God and I am starting to enjoy tefillah more.” 
By utilizing the Torah and tefillah in whatever meaningful way they see fit, students appear to be enjoying the new adjustments and strengthening their bond with God. 
Students say their tefillah activities are now more enjoyable with the passionate energy of their peers. 
“Being surrounded by peers who chose to be in my specific tefillah cohort makes the experience all the more meaningful,” says sophomore Marley Fischer. 
Students appreciate their freedom to choose the space in which they daven or learn Jewish values through various activities. Students will soon be able to choose new tefillah electives and explore unique ways to connect with God outside of traditional davening. 
In the past, traditional tefillah occurred in separate rooms two days per week. Sixth and seventh graders davened together, the eighth graders davened by themselves, and the whole high school davened together in the Beit Knesset. 
Additionally, there was a learning tefillah, with two days per week dedicated to learning about tefillah, parashot, and other Jewish education. 
There was also the beloved Friday tefillah, where the entire GOA upper school community came together every Friday morning in the gym. Together, students and teachers recounted events of the previous week, sang songs, heard about clubs from club leaders, and discussed upcoming events. 

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