July 2015 - Page 3 of 5

Chaburah Spotlight: Sarah Gomolin

Sarah Gomolin is from Toronto, Canada. After attending Ulpanat Orot high school, she spent a year studying in MMY followed by half a year studying at Michlalah Yerushalayim.

Sarah’s Chabura is on the topic of the twelve shevatim. The girls learn the details about each of the twelve sons as well as the shevet at large. Additionally, through learning the stories of each shevet and their personalities, the girls discuss and delve into different middos and hashkafic topics. With different meforshim on Chumash, midrashim and contemporary sources, the girls engage in textual learning to better gain understanding of the personalities of their roots and how it applies to their lives today.

The NCSYers in Sarah’s Chabura are; Estee Gerber (Manhattan, NY), Eliana Kahan (Monsey, NY), Kayla Samet (Monsey, NY) and Michal Miller (Woodmere, NY)

Which shevet do you relate to the most and why?

Kayla – Binyamin is compared to a wolf. Binyamin is starving for more to sustain himself. He is always raving for more torah and knowledge to satisfy his hunger. Personally, I feel that I relate most to Binyamin because I love to learn. I came to michlelet to learn more and have a more productive summer. I love to grow and learn from all those around me everyday, like a wolf, hungry for more.

Estee – The Shevet I most identify with is Shevet Yehuda. Shevet Yehuda was the leader of all the Shevarim and the first to travel in the desert. Similar to Shevet Yehuda’s passion for Bnei Yisrael, my family and I are very passionate about supporting Israel and we lobby to congress on behalf of Israel. Just like Shevet Yehuda had to be passionate as the leader of all the Shevatim, I am proud to be a passionate active advocate for Israel. Therefore I very much identify with Shevet Yehuda.

Michal- Zevulun, because even though he couldn’t learn torah, he found a creative way to achieve his goal by sponsoring yisachar who was learning. This is an important message for us that even when our goals seem out of our reach, with some creativity and thought outside the box you can achieve anything!

Eliana- I relate most to shevet yehuda because yehuda stood up for what he believed in when he stood up for Yosef.

Welcome TJJ Ambassadors!

It was such an honor to welcome another amazing NCSY summer program to our campus today! The Anne Samson TJJ Ambassadors trip spent all of Monday with us. They learned in chaburahs, came to activities like art, aerobics, and jumprope and went on a small tiyul with Shanah Bet! Having them with us reenergized everyone and put all the campers in a great mood. To add to the energy levels on Michlelet, we heard from the hilarious and insightful Rav Gav, and then headed to the gym for a camp wide dodgeball game! TJJA left, but we cannot wait to see them in two days. We are so looking forward!

Rebbetzin Shira Smiles

Please follow the link to hear Rebbetzin Shira Smiles speak about the Nine Days and Tisha B’Av and how to make it impactful:

http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/838863/Mrs.%20Shira%20Smiles/Tisha%20B’Av%20and%20Ahava%20Rabah

Chaburah Spotlight: Rikki Bulka

Rikki is from Woodmere, NY. She went to SKA and Michlalah and is now a junior in Queens College majoring in psychology and history. Rikki is so excited to be back on Michlelet as a madricha!

The NCSYers in Rikki’s chaburah are Michal Yacker (Lawrence, NY), Ayelet Stern (Chashmonaim, Israel), Talia Yahav (Chicago, IL), Rivki Feldman (Lawrence, NY), and Naama Schwartz (Edison, NJ)!!!!!

Rikki’s chaburah focuses on the meaning of the words of Shmoneh Esreh and allows the girls to delve deeper into something they are used to saying everyday and gives them a better understanding of the words they’re saying. Her chaburah is about gaining an appreciation for the specific words that the Anshei Knesses Hagedolah chose for us to say each day and to attain a level of excitement to open up a siddur and harness our daily opportunity to have a personal conversation with our Avinu Shebashamyim!

What would you want 18 of in your life and why?

Ayelet: 18 meters of hair so I can donate a few times for cancer patients.

Talia: if I could have 18 of anything, it would be 18 places where I feel like I’m happiest… Any time I want to be in a better mood or cheer myself up, I choose one of the 18 places in the world I feel the best, and just go there and ‘refresh’.

Rivki: If I could have 18 of anything, I would add 18 more yamim tovim so I could have a chance out of school to reflect and connect to Hashem.

Michal: If I could have 18 of anything, I would add 18 hours to my day to have more opportunity to do good and really make a difference in the world.

Naama:I’d like 18 sisters so I could borrow all of their clo

NCSY Michlelet Week 2 Video

Chessed Sundays

On Sundays, we have an amazing combination of learning and chessed! The day started off with chaburah and shiur, and then we went straight to a delicious lunch. We headed onto the busses to go to the centers to play with underprivileged children. We made kites and played soccer and tag with them! It was an extremely moving and eye opening experience. We went back to campus and had dinner, and then heard from Rebbetzin Shira Smiles. Night activity was so fun! We went to the mall and played a version of Capture the Counselor. They dressed up and were spread around the mall! This Sunday was amazing, and we cant wait for Chessed Sunday next week!

Chaburah Spotlight: Bracha Brauser

Bracha Brauser grew up in Hollywood, Florida. After attending Weinbaum Yeshiva High School, she spent a year studying in Michlalah in Yerushalayim. Bracha is a junior at Stern College, pursuing a double major in Psychology and Judaic Studies. Bracha loved her summer as a camper on Michlelet and is so excited to be back again as a madricha!

Her chabura is titled, “Making Torah APPlicable: An App a Day to Live the Torah Way.” Each of Bracha’s Chaburas is designed to apply a popular iPhone app to teach a particular theme or concept in Judaism. A recent chabura she taught, called “APProaching G-d One Text at a Time,” conveyed the idea that just as a texting conversation can be constant throughout the day, tefillah should be thought of as a form of communication with G-d which has the potential to create a constant, personal relationship with G-d. The structure and theme of Bracha’s chabura lends itself to textual learning, interactive activities, and stimulating discussion. The goal of Bracha’s chabura is to explore and understand seminal topics in Judaism, with an emphasis on imbuing meaning and purpose into our daily routines.

The girls in Bracha’s chabura are Atara Benovitz ( Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel), Tova Felsenthal ( Passaic, NJ) , Zahava Pfeiffer (Teaneck, NJ),
Liora Steinberg ( Chicago, IL) and Menucha Volkov ( Philadelphia, Pennsylvania).

If Michlelet was an iPhone app, which would it be and why?
Atara: “If Michlelet was an app it would be the compass app because just like a compass points us in the right direction, Michlelet reminds us of who we want to be, and points is in that direction. Whenever you’re lost you can pull out a compass to steer you back home. So too, Michlelet is our inspiration throughout the year, always steering us home.”

Tova :” If Michlelet was an app it would be the settings app because there are so many different “settings” on Michlelet which come together into one app. On Michlelet there are so many different girls that all come from different places but all come together as one, just like one app. Also, there is so much you can do on Michlelet with just an advisor, or a camper, or siddur, or with anything, there are just so many options just like the settings app. Whether standard mode or expert mode, it’s Michlelet, and it’s incredible.”

Zahava: ” If Michlelet were an app it would be the clock app. With only 6 weeks on michlelet, the madrichot and staff always make sure there is enough time to pack in everything including learning, chesed and tiyulim! We pack so much into one day using our time wisely and making sure we have a meaningful, productive, and the best summer ever. As time ticks by, we are all confident that each moment of our day is being used to its fullest.”

Liora: “If Michlelet was an app it would be the Waze app. Just as a GPS directs you to your destination, the madrichot, head staff, and teachers are always there to guide you. The environment of all the girls on Michlelet is conducive ito growth and always steers you where you want to go”.

Menucha: “If Michlelet was an app it would be contacts because just as when you get a new phone you have no contacts, so too when you come onto Michlelet you might not know many people, but when you leave your contacts will be overfilled.”

Eilat Trip Ending

The Eilat trip will definitely be a highlight of Michlelet 2015. After an incredible first day of hiking, our second day started off with an optional 4 AM hike that would end with davening on a mountain as the sun began to rise. The view was amazing and many girls enjoyed the experience of davening so early. We ate a delicious breakfast at the hotel and were on our way to the Eilat beach to spend the day! First up was water sports, with banana boating and tubing being offered, as well as kayaking and peddle boating. After the first activities, everyone boarded a boat that took us off shore to a beautiful spot on the ocean. We had the opportunity to swim and snorkel, and the water was beautiful! We got back to shore, got on the busses and stopped at Mitzpeh Rimon for a barbecue! Chicken, hot dogs and salad were the perfect ending to a fun, action filled day. After getting back to campus, some girls even made it to the optional mishmar! Michlelet is an inspiring place, and we cannot wait to see what Week 3 is going to look like! Have a wonderful shabbos and a chodesh tov!

Weekly Update #2 from Mrs. Yudin

Dear Michlelet NCSY Parents, amu”sh

What a tremendously satisfying and superb first full week we have had! It is such a pleasure getting to know all your wonderful daughters. We are really coming together as a cohesive group, filled with special shared experiences and an impressive amount of spirit and excitement.

I am sure you are following our blog (michlelet.ncsy.org) and are seeing the incredible blend, merging first rate encounters with learning, chessed, touring our land and having pure fun.

Our first Shabbos was really delightful. The singing, ruach, zmiros, tish and kumzits were indescribable!! Some highlights were…..the Infamous Michlelet NCSY Tisch led by our “Rebbe” (Madricha– Rina Landsman) and “Rebbetzin” (Madricha-Leora Litwin,) was filled with energy and you could hear the laughter and singing from miles away. Throughout Shabbos more and more singing…zmiros…fun, getting to know you programs…a beautiful kumzits at sunset and surrounded by beautiful hills at Shalosh Seudos. The girls had so much spirit and were really into the program. At the meals, we heard beautiful divrei Torah presented by Michlelet NCSYers, Michal Yacker and Goldie Serwatien. There were also optional shiurim offered by Rabbi Andi Yudin and Rabbi Joshy Starr. It was amazing to see how many girls came to both of the optional shiurim!! It showed how exceptional and unique our girls are!! It was a really beautiful Shabbos filled with bonding, good feeling and spirituality.

Upon reflecting our week, each day was packed with so many meaningful and exciting experiences.

In the area of learning, it really got off to a great start. I was so touched watching the Michlelet NCSYers so involved in learning in their small, informal chaburahswith their phenomenal madrichot. Their interest in learning with their top notch teachers was also veryinspiring to me. This was a personal real highlight of my week. I loved walking around, watching their excitement and involvement and listening to the sounds of Torah reverberating in the air. They were so engrossed and moved while listening to our extraordinary night speakers this week as well. (This week we had the privilege of hearing from Rav Dani Marcus, R’ Lavi Greenspan and Rav Menachem Nissel.)

Our touring, and getting to really know and feel our beautiful Land of Israel was another high spot for so many this week. We hiked the magnificent cliffs of Nachal Arugot, the very same cliffs where Dovid Hamelech travelled. There was nothing like the thrill of banana boating, tubing, swimming, snorkeling and going on a boat ride on the beautiful blue water of Eilat at the Red Sea. Equally as important as the fun that was had, were the new bonds created as we enjoyed each other’s company, splashing and laughing together.

Our activities this week were delightful, with a plethora of activities throughout the week for the NCSYers to choose from; Swimming, Aerobics, Yoga, Basketball Leagues, Art, Dance, Baking, Jumproping, Cake Decorating, Beat boxing and Jump–roping. It is great to relax and have a good time together with fellow Michlelet NCSYers and madrichot.

Our Night Activities weren’t any less sensational. During all our Night Activities this week; Iron Chef Michlelet, Farmhouse or Game Show Night, the laughter, unity and energy was strong and palpable as they competed, participated in fear factor activities, minute to win it and are you smarter than a 5th grader.

In the arena of chessed, it was really special to assist the people of Yerushalayim. Whether packaging food at Chasdei Neomi or Yad Eliezer for the needy of Jerusalem, or organizing medical equipment at Yad Sara, the NCSYers felt accomplished and fulfilled.

What a treat it was to participate in another chessed this week; greeting a Nefesh B’Nefesh flight early Tuesday morning. The girls were so enthusiastic and lively. How beautiful it was to witness the landing as well as to be part of their warm welcome. The girls were literally in tears as they watched everyone come off the plane. On a personal note, it was especially moving for me to watch the girls give such a warm welcome, being that it is about seven years now that our family has made aliyah, and it made me reminiscent of the emotions we felt when we came home. I was so proud of all our Michlelet NCSYers as they cheered the new Olim on as they landed, warmly welcoming them, grabbing them and dancing with the youngest new olim, the sweet delicious children. There were many young children as well as elderly people on this particularly packed flight.

Upon contemplation of our week, one scene that was particularly moving for me was at the Ben Gurion Airport while waiting for the plane to land. I turned around and saw an elderly woman, a Holocaust survivor, standing, anticipating the arrival of family members to land in our Holy Land. In her hand, she held a sign that read, “Am Yisrael Chai”, (“The Jewish Nation Lives On.”) Where else, and how else, does the eternity of our people come together than in a scene like this? As our girls, along with many others, greeted the olim warmly, with love and excitement, I turned around and glimpsed at her holding the sign, with tear filled eyes. It was a moment where our past, present and future all came together in such a poignant, stirring way.

As our off Shabbos has begun, I look forward to next week, where we can continue connecting to our past, building our present and creating our future while growing through Torah, Chessed and Ahavat Yisrael in this land of our dreams.

Please feel free to be in touch with any questions or feedback you may have.

Thank you for this most special privilege,

Rivka Yudin

Hiking b’Derech Eilat

Today was an another amazing day on Michlelet NCSY! We woke up bright and early and headed out of Yerushalayim on our way to Eilat. We made lunches and cheered on the busses. The hike was exciting, beautiful and we loved walking and sweating through the land of Israel! After lunch at the springs, we went to Yotfata to enjoy some ice cream. At the hotel, we settled in and got excited for another day on Michlelet NCSY!