[COMMUNICATED] Maya Safronov is an outstanding 7th grade student in Shuvu Petach Tikva. 

She’s been keeping Shabbos for quite a while now, without her parents knowing.Maya’s father works in hi-tech and her mother is an English teacher. Both are (still) anti-frum. She’s been in Shuvu since 1st grade, and while her parents are thrilled with the high level of learning, they’re not in the slightest bit interested in Yiddishkeit.

Last year Maya heard Megillah on Purim for the very first time.

The Rav of the school had arranged to have Krias HaMegillah in the school for the students and parents, and Maya told her mother that it was just a Purim party, and thus her mother allowed her to attend.

On Fridays Maya makes sure to use up the battery of her cell phone to make sure that it is dead by the time Shabbos comes so that her mother cannot be in touch with her, and that she does not give into her Yetzer Hara and use it on Shabbos.

All week long she thinks of different ways to “outsmart” her parents since she does not want to upset them.

Shuvu emphasizes the importance of Kibbud Av V’Em and that the students should not go against their parents in a Chutzpadik way.

The best Shabbos she ever had was at her teacher’s home in Bnei Brak.

She later commented on how easy it was for her to keep Shabbos according to Halacha in that atmosphere, and what Oneg Shabbos she had!