Hanukkah challenge? Creativity is the solution

Every year, we challenge students in grades 1-8 to think creatively about Hanukkah. This year, we asked for their ideas about tzedakah.

The judges of the annual Hanukkah Art and Writing Contest, sponsored by The Jewish Voice and the Touro Fraternal Association, were once again impressed by the quality of the entries. The artwork showed sophistication and the writing entries demonstrated creativity.

This year, there were more than 80 entries: 70 pieces of art and 17 essays or poems. New this year to the writing contest was poetry. Students embraced poetry, using rhyme to submit some very clever Hanukkah poems. Poetry will definitely make an appearance in next year’s contest.

As in the past, students in grades 1-4 provided artwork. The writing entries came from grades 5-8. First, second and third place prizes were awarded, as well as two honorable mentions in the art category. Judges felt there were so many entries that some deserved the extra mention. In the writing category, first, second and third place awards were given. In addition to the prizes for the first, second and third place winners, the first place winner’s school receives a technology-related prize.

Judges were Fran Ostendorf, editor of The Voice, Leah Camara, layout and designer of The Voice, Ried Redlich of Touro Fraternal Organization, Jo-Anne Petrie, director of the David C. Isenberg Family Early Childhood Center at the Dwares JCC and Gail Putnam, vice president of administration of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.

Art contest winners

First place: Yitzchok Karp, grade 4, Providence Hebrew Day School. His Hanukkah scene used color that made this a stand-out with the judges.

Second place: Gabriele Lavin, grade 2, Sowams School, Barrington. Each branch of her menorah illustrated a particular mitzvah, executing the tzedakah prompt quite well.

Third place: Moshe Zimmerman, grade 1, Providence Hebrew Day School. The judges felt this picture of a family also illustrated the idea of tzedakah in a way that made us all think.

Honorable Mention:  Yerachmiel Shabsai Rosenthal, grade 3, Providence Hebrew Day School, and Chaim Vito Pompili, grade 4, Providence Hebrew Day School.

Writing contest winners:

First place: Moshe Yudkowsky, grade 5, Providence Hebrew Day School. He wrote a poem about Hanukkah with perfect, clever rhyme. The judges chuckled as they read it and agreed with its sentiment.

Second place: Rochel Miriam Gallor, grade 5, Providence Hebrew Day School. Another poem, this also used rhyme and verse to express the meaning of Hanukkah.

Third place: Levi Simcha Minkin, grade 5, Providence Hebrew Day School. He wrote an essay that pulled the reader in by starting with several jokes. We could picture this being read aloud.

Awards were presented Dec. 18 at the Touro Fraternal Association’s annual Hanukkah Party. First place was awarded $108; second place, $72; and third place, $36. The first place winner’s school received a technology gift valued at $720. Awards were funded by the Touro Fraternal Association.

FRAN OSTENDORF is the editor of The Jewish Voice.