We had an amazing week at JCoSS celebrating Chanukah!  Please see the highlights below and look at our social media accounts (*instagram – @JCoSS_official   * Facebook – @officialjcoss) for more photos and videos:  

Monday – Thank you to Zac in Year 7 for giving such a touching speech this afternoon and starting our Chanukah week celebrations off on a very meaningful note.

Zac has been tirelessly campaigning for this years sponsored charities to include COSMIC (@cosmic_charity) and we are so honoured to be able to give to such a worthy cause.  Zac lit our first two candles of the week and then rejoined the rest of his year group to enthusiastically sing Maoz Tzur and One Day, which we will post a snippet of as a little Chanukah treat – Enjoy!

Tuesday – Year 12s made latkes, Year 9 decorated doughnuts and our year 8s sang Ocho Kandelikas ????

Thank you to Rabbi Mark Goldsmith for helping us find our inner Maccabees today and of course to Ellie and Betsy from year 8 for lighting the candles and announcing another of our sponsored charities Chai Cancer Care.

Wednesday – Thank you to Max in year 9 for introducing us to another of this years sponsored charities, Grief Encounter and for lighting our fourth night candles.

Today’s festivities also included a crafty corner where students could make candles and cards for people supported by Norwood Charity and of course a blast of music to end the day…Dreidels at the ready everyone!

Thursday – whilst the students were treated to doughnuts, we were captivated by Nicole and Olivia in year 10 singing a beautiful version of ‘When You Believe’.

Thank you to Rabbi Tanya Sakhonovich for sharing her memories of Chanukah as a child in Belarus and for reminding us about the freedoms that this festival represents.  Tonight’s Chanukiah was lit by Hannah in year 10, who also proudly announced her year groups sponsored charity The Survivors Trust.

Friday – JCoSS was in great spirits again this afternoon and not just because of a non uniform day..

So let’s all give a huge thank you to our fabulous Music and Jewish Education department for bringing so much joy to this years Chanukah!

Today we were joined by Rabbi Jeff Berger who gave the traditional Chanukah blessings, as well as a beautiful speech that asked that ‘we each be the light in the darkness for those who need it’.

Nina from year 11 announced our 5th sponsored charity, The Separated Child Foundation and lit the Chaunkiah for the final time this week.