Upon arriving in the TA parking lot or via shuttle bus from the MTA down the road, the campus was alive with student and volunteer ushers greeting guests, music playing, and welcome banners and signs. After checking in and receiving a “Proud TA Grandparent” mug along with a personalized schedule for the day, grandparents and special friends proceeded to the gym, where they were treated to a vast delectable assortment of breakfast items to choose from. 

After spending some time eating, mingling and getting to know each other, it was time for the main event – the opportunity to spend time with their grandchildren.  Using their personalized schedules and guided by an army of student ushers, grandparents found their way to their grandchildrens’ classrooms to participate in lessons and projects. 

In the classrooms, TA’s dedicated and talented Rabbeim, morohs and teachers treated our guests, and our talmidim, with fascinating and interactive presentations on a variety of topics.  Grandparents came away amused, inspired, uplifted, and a little more knowledgeable too!

The next part of the program was back in the multi-purpose room, which had been magically transformed from banquet hall to theatre with over 900 seats.  After being joined by over 500 students, music and singing erupted, with grandparents and students alike, welcoming in Adar with song and joy.  After an amazing display of TA ruach, Rabbi Yaacov Cohen, TA’s Executive Director, welcomed everyone and recognized TA’s administration and board.  He then introduced Rabbi Yehuda Lefkovitz, TA’s president of TA for over 3 decades to address the assemblage.  Rabbi Lefkovitz spoke about how when the grandparents went to school, there were no grandparents or great-grandparents to share nachas with. He added that the letters of Adar, “aleph, daled, reish” contains in it “daled reish”, representing “dor”- generations. When we bring generations into our lives (“mishenichanas”) and come together to celebrate the continuity of generations (“a-”dar”), we rejoice (“marbim b’simcha”.) Rabbi Lefkovitz also welcomed a special gadol b’Yisrael who had joined us for Grandparents Day all the way from Bnei Brak, HaRav Shimon Galay, shlita, who is a proud TA Grandparent of Yonatan in 4th grade.

Next, a video was shown, followed by additional singing and music.  It was truly a special moment as over 1,000 people sang together in unison.  After a couple of songs, Rabbi Cohen announced a surprise.  Sitting in the crowd was Mrs. Leah Derera, a woman who had worked in the office at TA for over 4 decades.  She was there as the “Honorary TA Bubby” of the day, since that day was her 100th birthday!  All of the talmidim showed her incredible kavod, and sang happy birthday to her.

As the event drew to a close, the last matter of business was to draw the winners of TA’s annual Sweepstakes campaign.  The crowd was entertained by Rabbi Yossi Brecher, a beloved 1st grade rebbe, who conducted the sweepstakes drawing ceremony with his signature brand of humor. Winning tickets were drawn by Levi Berkowitz, the top student ticket seller, TA’s security officer, Mr. Mac, and finally, the grand prize was drawn by the “birthday girl”, Mrs. Derera.  Our 2nd prize winners were Eliyahu and Chaya Weiner, 1st prize winners were Zvi and Miriam Birnbaum, and grand-prize winners of a VIP trip to Eretz Yisrael for 6 were Rabbi Richard and Sharon Levine.

Grandparents and special friends were bid farewell, and were presented with a piece of Erev Shabbos potato kugel as they departed.  One grandparent commented, “the entire scene literally took my breath away. The coordination of all the details from the shuttle service to the lovely buffet breakfast, to the boys who were so courteous, friendly and helpful, to the personalized schedules-everything was outstanding!” TA’s guests left with a feeling of pride in the Yeshiva, promising to join us once again at the next grandparents’ day in Yerushalayim!

An incredible event like this could not have happened without the hard work of devotion of many individuals. Thank you to Mrs. Sarala Wertenteil and Mrs. Aliza Samet for creating an amazing breakfast display, together with their group of amazing parent volunteers.

Our TA Administration, Hanhalah, rebbeim, Morohs, teachers, and office personnel, all worked tirelessly in the weeks leading up to Grandparents Day to ensure the most unforgettable TA experience for our grandparents. Thank you for all of your hard work and everything you do for our yeshiva on a constant basis !