Our Tefillah Week started with a big bang last Friday morning when guest speaker Rabbi Paysach Krohn inspired the student body about the importance of Tefillah (prayer) and shared many suggestions on how to enhance our prayers and relationship with G-d. The school instituted Tefillah Week to teach students about Tefillah's meaning and value in order to enhance each student's level of davening.

Rabbi Krohn is a talented, world renown lecturer and author. His "Maggid" series books can be found in Jewish homes everywhere. Through his interactive speech (he gave out autographed books to people who answered questions) and eye-opening stories, Rabbi Krohn successfully related his ideas to the students. It was an enormous privilege to have the opportunity to listen and learn from such an honorable and scholarly rabbi.

Tefillah week gave students the chance to learn the halachot (laws) and to discuss the deeper meaning and purpose to prayer. Each class discussed an aspect of prayer throughout the week learning either by chavruta, lectures, or discussions. The Navi (prophets) classes learned about Birchat Hashachar (morning blessings). Gemarah/ Tushba (Talmud) classes learned about Shemonah Esrei, and Chumash (Bible) classes discussed the philosophical aspects to davening and building a relationship with G-d.

These classes hopefully have not only inspired students during their high school years, but will have a positive effect that remains with them for the rest of their lives. Thank you to the Zaghi Family for making Rabbi Krohn's address possible.

This past Shabbat, Boca was the place to be for WYHS students from all grades. Freshman girls enjoyed the hospitality of the Broides and the Grossmans and senior girls had a great time at the Sugermans.

The sophomore class had a classwide Shabbaton, which was the brainchild of sophomore class presidents Raquel Amram and Jason Mann. Friday night, after dinner at the homes of the Branders, Lanners and Tirschwells, the students participated in song and choulent-filled tisches at the homes of the Schochets and Spodeks.

The entire class had a delicious Mary L-catered Shabbat lunch on the newly dedicated second floor in the large double classroom with the Horowitzes and Spodeks. A Motzei Shabbat program capped off the weekend of bonding.

But this past week was not an isolated incident. Week in and week out students frequent the circle in a class or shiur get together of some sort. I know that in my own home my mother has had her class on numerous occasions.

Being invited to their teachers' homes allows students to witness how their teachers interact in their own four walls. We see how they treat their spouses and children with respect and how they can be down to earth people. When we witness how our teachers behave in their own homes, they graduate from information givers to role models.