Lubavitcher Yeshiva of Crown Street came up with a great idea in which every child will get to properly enjoy Purim, by receiving and giving Shalach Manot to his fellow classmates. The following could be a true story:
Dear Parents ,שיחיו
It was Purim morning and Sholom was in high spirits. He stood by the mirror adjusting his costume. He smiled as he remembered how excited he was to be the first one in his class to buy a purim costume. He spent his chanuka gelt and allowance and bought his purim costume as soon as they went on sale. Before purim his mother took him shopping for the nosh he wanted to pack into the shalach manos he would give to his friends, and he spent a better part of the whole last week packing them neatly and creatively into the little bags he made. A small “to: from:” tag adorned the cute packages as they stood in the dining room waiting to be delivered.
Shalach Manot, Don’t Forget your Classmates! An Innovative Idea
Lubavitcher Yeshiva of Crown Street came up with a great idea in which every child will get to properly enjoy Purim, by receiving and giving Shalach Manot to his fellow classmates. The following could be a true story:
Dear Parents ,שיחיו
It was Purim morning and Sholom was in high spirits. He stood by the mirror adjusting his costume. He smiled as he remembered how excited he was to be the first one in his class to buy a purim costume. He spent his chanuka gelt and allowance and bought his purim costume as soon as they went on sale. Before purim his mother took him shopping for the nosh he wanted to pack into the shalach manos he would give to his friends, and he spent a better part of the whole last week packing them neatly and creatively into the little bags he made. A small “to: from:” tag adorned the cute packages as they stood in the dining room waiting to be delivered.
Sholom went to his Rebbi’s house, a considerable distance from his own, and was expecting to see a few shalach manos’ from his classmates when he came back. But no one came.
He went to his Bubby’s house, and came back. Still no one came. Sholom‘s spirits began to sink. He double checked with his younger sister, to see if indeed no one came yet. He was sure that at least one boy came to his house. He was a good kid, and he did have friends. Sadly, he sat there in the foyer, thinking of all the nosh he could have had by now.
Suddenly his face lit up. There was Chaim coming down his block, with a nice shalach Manos. He straightened up and went to the door. He peeked out, only to see Chaim pass right by his house. Sholom was crestfallen. Where were my friends? Why doesn’t anyone come to my house? Too discouraged to get out and give Shalach Manos himself, Sholom sat on the steps of his house, and watched the passerby, even some of his classmates pass right by his house. He was so sad.
Indeed, it was a Purim Sholom would never forget.
But we can help him not have the same experience again.
To make sure every single talmid gets to experience the pride and excitement of receiving his own shalach manos, the talmidim from grades 2 through 6 were randomly paired (by a computer generated selection process) with two other boys in their class. Please make sure your son prepares and delivers shalach manos to each of the boys on his list. This is in addition to any other shalach manos he wants to send. Ideally the shalach manos should be delivered on Purim. If you feel that it will be difficult because your son is paired with a boy who does not live in Crown Heights, please have your son bring the shalach manos to school on Monday, Ta’anis Esther, for his designated classmates.
In the Zechus of the talmidim’s participation in “project Simcha” may we merit the ultimate simcha of the Geulah Shelaimah!
Wishing you and your family a Freilichen Purim
Rabbi Y. Simpson
Principal
Mother/teacher who-s been there
Excellent idea BUT I would like to address the mother? Why does your son just sit like a prince and wait for people to come to him. Maybe he should think of going out there to the classmate who is also sitting by his window waiting for the bell to ring. If you know that your child may possibly feel hurt on Purim, make sure that he initiates Shalach Monos to at least five friends. He will surely get the reciprocated Shalach Monos. This should be top priority even before some other Shalach Monos so he has a good feeling for more of the day. Maybe the other boys were so busy going to their Bubbies that they had no time for classmates just as your did not. Yes, that does not help for the boy who passed his house, but maybe his mother gave him a limit and he chose to use his allotment for someone else. There will always be another child who is more popular…Let’s teach our kids to be proactive and think about the feeliings of less popular kids not only because it’s a Chesed, but it can also take off the pressure of being so occupied with one’s social standing. Again I think it’s great for the school to intervene. Lastly, Mothers, use a little Sechel, it is very hurtful to not receive Shalach Monos from a classmate on your block.
chani
very nice- all the schools should do this
Changing it for the good
You can make very inexpensive and nice shalach manos, and still give everyone in the class. I well remember being “the forgotten one” even though I attended school often, had good grades and got along well with teachers and friends. To this day, there is a tinge of embarrassment and pain when I look back. I made sure my children gave shalach manos to everyone in their classes, at the expense of other household goodies on a ‘shoestring’ budget. I sacrificed so that for sure each child got one, from us.
purim!!
the community should do this.
wouldnt it be nice if this was community wide. i heard they are doing this idea of community wide shalach monos in new haven this year.
so smart.
1. in these tough ecenomic times it minimizes spending…you only give to 2 people, and no one gets offended.
2. in these tough times it increases achdus and a feeling of unity, community
a grateful parent
I was so impressed when I received this letter. It is so thoughtful. Thank you Rabbi Simpson for really caring about every child in your school. As a parent who sends her child to Lubavitcher Yeshiva I want to say to all the staff at the school- thank you for the individual attention each child receives. The staff is always so accommodating and helpful.
parent - dont wallow in self pity
How about taking kids on mivtzoim on Purim? what a novel idea! I remember going to hospitals or nursing homes when I was younger. the seudah can be prepared in advance (or go to the community seudah), and take your kids! there are many lonely people out there, maybe your children would appreciate their own situation more if they saw what other people need, and ashrainu, ma tov chelkeinu
Listen to the Rebbe, and GIVE shalach manos, the mitzvah is not to RECEIVE
jjj
The reason this happened is because they don’t speak Yiddish, as was explained in the last Nshei Newsletter!
a fan
once again rabbi simpson proves why he is running such a successful school i am more impressed by him every year i wish him cont hatzlacha
omg
omg – i cant believe it. purim should not be revolved around only giving mishloach manos and getting back
CHT
Excellent idea but one suggestion – don’t use random generation for that. If computer select randomly 2 classmates for every one classmate, it could theoretically turn out that some classmates get less shaloch mones and some get more.
Here is much easier and correct way that will ensure that every classmate will get exactly 2 shaloch mones.
1. Use the class list.
2. Every classmate give to two classmates right below his name
3. Once you rich end of list, go to the beginning: last classmate give to two first in the list and one before last gives to the last one and the first one
This way, every classmate gets from two classmates above him in the list and give to two below. There is no need running special software – just get the list and everything is clear.