Recently, Magen David's sixth grade girls celebrated the wonderful bond that is shared only between a mother and daughter. After many months of preparation, the girls were thrilled and excited to perform before their mothers, aunts, sisters, grandmothers and even great-grandmothers.

To begin the 7th annual celebration, Rabbi Baruch Hilsenrath, Principal of Magen David, Rabbi David Sultan, Assistant Principal and Mrs. Nancy Posner, Principal of General Studies addressed the guests.

In accordance with the theme, recognizing Israel's 60th birthday, the girls started the evening with a candle lighting ceremony, commemorating Israel in an oral history, with the last candle in memory of all the lives lost, and the approaching salvation and redemption of the Jewish nation. As the girls sang a choral presentation of Israeli songs, the audience was treated to the lovely piano playing of 6th grader Diana Mamiye, and the talented guitar playing of Sarah Cohen.

In what I think was the most touching part of the evening, we were treated to a mother-daughter slide show—with each picture more touching than the next. The slides showed the strong bond between mothers and daughters, and the love they share.

Following the slide show, each girl was given a lovely leather-bound siddur, with their Hebrew names engraved on the cover. Each mother was presented with a laminated set of women's prayers, in loving memory of Gladys Beda Tobias A”H.

In closing, the girls performed a wide array of dances, in colorful costumes by Ruthy Mann. After their performances, the guests were invited to a beautifully decorated buffet of light salads, sushi and desserts catered by Magen David's own chefs, David Shamah and Joe Chea, and sponsored by the P.T.A. The children's excitement was electric, and the dancing continued.

This glorious mother/daughter celebration would not have been possible without the help of three very special and dedicated teachers: Ms. Ora Delbery, Mrs. N. Stern, Mrs. N. Levy and Mrs. Sima Hilsenrath, for her artwork. Thank you to Sara Mamiye and Stephanie Shamah for organizing the event, and to all of the evening's sponsors. It was a special evening for all those who worked so hard. Everyone who attended will remember this night forever. It goes to show you how priceless a mother/daughter relationship really is.
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Randi Shomer is a community member, mother of four children, and a freelance writer for IMAGE Magazine.