Globs of henna smeared on students’ arms, the sweet smell of Moroccan fried pastries hanging in the air, and tie-dyed t-shirts let Shalhevet students feel the diversity and unity of Israeli Jewry on Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israeli Independence Day, which was celebrated on April 20.

The day started out with a grand flag-raising ceremony on the new Sport Court and the annual Bat Ami-choreographed sophomore flag dance. High school students were then paired up, by grade, with students from Elementary and Middle School in the theme of the day: achdut, or unity.

“Because they closed the Middle School, we basically wanted to bring everyone together and we decided to do achdut, to show that even though is a bunch of different cultures, and that Jews are from all over the world, we’re still connected and unified,” Sara Borenstein, one of Shalhevet’s Bat-Ami. 

Activities included the “Ashkenazi room,” where Judaic Studies teacher Raizie Weissman taught Israeli dances to ninth graders and their buddies, and a “Moroccan palace” in the library, where students could taste sweet treats and experience the custom of temporarily tattooing themselves with henna. 

Around two in the afternoon, it started to rain, cutting outdoor activities short and causing classes to resume for seventh period. Despite the drizzle, a good time was had by all.

“I really liked everything,” sophomore Hadar Azrad said. “The henna, the music and the donuts.”