Written by Moshe Yosef Kerendian

Valley Torah embodies many crucial traits and opportunities that many schools lack or don’t emphasize as much. Valley Torah is known for not only being a school but also a family. Students become close with peers in their grades and even with peers in other grades! This is achieved with bonding trips, in-school events, and so much more; however, Valley Torah’s unity isn’t simply confined to just in school, rather it extends even out of school. To elaborate, this past Sunday, Purim Day, students stretching from Valley Village to Tarzana gathered for Shacharit at 6:30 A.M. in the morning after a late night at the Valley Torah annual Purim Chagigah. Students arrived at Rabbi Koshki Shul early in the morning even though they were up late the night before. We prayed with Simcha, listened to the Torah, and heard the Megilah. During the Megliah, when Haman’s name was mentioned, we lit mini fireworks to emphasize our disdain for Haman, of course with the permission of Rabbi Koshki. Everyone had a good time praying and further enjoyed listening to the Megilah. 

The effort students put to go and daven early on Purim after a long night is very praiseworthy. This idea of overcoming the Yezter Hara (telling one to sleep in and delay or possibly miss the time for davening) is a crucial trait that Valley Torah emphasizes. This is another opportunity outside of school in which students bond and strengthen their relationship with Rebbiem and their peers. This is a memory that I will cherish once I am older.