Today we did something really special, we went to play with children with special needs. We hosted a carnival and got to know a bunch of really cute kids!
And although it was only for an hour, it was really special!
Having a great time on Michlelet!

-Rachi Lowy 

Talia Tarzik is from Bergenfield, NJ and is currently studying in Stern College for Women. She went to Bruriah High School before spending 1.5 years in MMY. Talia is so excited to be back for her second summer on Michlelet for the best summer ever! Her chabura learns about each of Rav Avigdor Miller’s 10 Steps to Greatness and how they can grow to their own levels of greatness!

Talia’s chabura is made up of 5 amazing girls: Tari (SKA), Devorah (Naaleh), Aviva (Naaleh), Naava (Maayanot), and Tali (Temima High School).

Tali- If I could go back on time to meet someone from Tanach, I would love to meet Rus. The reason for this is because Rus was a huge baalas chessed and from her amazing misiras nefesh and caring actions she brought the startings of Moshiach. I want to learn from her how to act selflessly and to everything Leshem Shamayim.

Devorah- If I could go back in history to meet one person it would be a David Hamelach because he was so unique from all the other people we see in Tanach and acted in more violent and intense ways but also succeeded greatly and is still someone we look up to regardless of his violent behavior.

Aviva- If I could go back in time to meet one person from Tanach I would like to meet Rachel. Rachel was such a special and caring person especially to her sister Leah. She was really careful not to embarrass her and went above and beyond by not only staying quiet when lavan told Leah to go to go up but she also gave Leah the signs.

Naava- If I could meet anyone from tanach I would choose Moshe rabeinu. He started off a humble shepherd much like as us and ended up being the leader of the Jewish nation. He did this all with many struggles along the way which arguably makes him the biggest role model in Tanach.

Tari- I would want to meet רחל because I would love to learn how she was able to be an amazing מבתר.

Michal Leiter is from Passaic, NJ and is studying Psychology in Stern College for Women. She went to Bruriah for High school, followed by an amazing year in Michlalah. Michal went on Michlelet as a camper and is so excited to be back as a madricha! The name of Michal’s chaburah is “Life is a full Package”. Each Chaburah goes through the steps of ordering and receiving packages and connecting them to different topics in self development and Middos that are apart of our every day life. With each topic, they discuss how to work on the Middah practically, how it enhances your life, and brings in Gedolim who exemplified this Middah. Each chaburah leaves the girls with practical lessons on how to improve this Middah in their lives. The incredible girls in Michal’s chaburah are Shalva (BYOB), Chana (MHS), Chana (MHS), Meira (SKA), Atara (Naaleh), and Nava (SKA).

What is your favorite Mitzvah and why?
Shalva: My favorite mitzvah is tefillah because it gives me a chance to connect to Hashem everyday.
Atara: My favorite Mitzah is Tzedaka. I love doing this mitzvah because I love being a giver and helping those in need!
Chana: My favorite mitzvah is shabbos. I especially love counting down to it during the week. It gives me something to look forward to and gives me the opportunity to always have shabbos on my mind.
Chana: לפני עיור לא תתן מכשול
Is one of my favorite Mitzvos. It is important not to withhold any information from others that could mislead them, or cause them to stumble. This Mitzvah helps me go through every day treating people the right way.
Nava: Asking my favorite mitzvah is such a hard question because there are so many and they are all so amazing and beautiful. I think one of my favorites is tzaar baalei chaim because all living things have feelings and it is so important to treat all of Hashem’s creations with respect.
Meira: I love the versatility of Kibud Av Vaem. It’s a Mitzvah I try to prioritize and improve because family relationships are most important to me. It applies not only to one’s biological parents, but any figures or mentors in life which makes the concept more personal and applicable.

Today was an incredible day filled with inspiring learning and amazing trips! After a great night sleep and 9:00 wake up, we started off our day with learning before heading off to amazing trips! We got to choose between going on a tour of the old city, hearing the incredible story of Tammy Karmel, who has so much Emunah despite her difficult challenges, or just staying at Reishit and enjoying super fun activities as well as going to the makolet! We ended off the day with an excellent shiur given by Rabbi Willig, and a super fun chopped night activity with the incredible Naomi Nachman Today was an outstanding day!

-Penina Horowitz, Boca Raton, FL

Today we broke up into two groups- one went to Chevron, while the other went to Bad Vashem and Har Hertzl. I went to the second option. We had a really good tour guide who walked us through Yad Vashem while telling us the history and information in each room. It was very interesting! After that we had a quick lunch and then went to Har Herzl. We had another really good tour guide who brought us around telling us different stories about Hertzl and different heroic soldiers that were buried there. We then made our way to the Kotel to Daven Mincha. After, we hopped back on the bus and went to Gan Soccer for a yummy dinner.

-Tali Wolf, Atlanta

Elana Silkin is from Boca Raton, FL and is studying Jewish Education at Stern College for Women. She attended Katz Yeshiva High School of Boca Raton before spending a growth filled year and a half at Shaalvim for Women. Elana is so excited to spend her first summer on Michlelet teaching and making everlasting connections with the girls! The girls in Elana’s Chaburah are Aliza (SKA), Shoshana (Shulamith), Hannah (Maayanot), Shira (MHS), Shalva (YULA), and Bayla (SKA). Elana’s Chaburah is about Gedolei Yisraeland different Middot they embodied and goes through the different ways we can emulate these Middot within ourselves so that we can come out of this summer with the tools to continue to grow and become the best versions of ourselves.

What is something you are excited to learn about this summer?

Aliza- I’m excited to learn about many different Middot to become a better person and strengthen my relationship with Hashem.

Hannah- I’m excited to learn about how to improve my Middot so I can become a better friend, daughter, and sister.

Shalva-  I’m excited to learn about Eretz Yisrael while I’m in the Holy Land.

Shira- I’m excited to learn and grow this summer!

Shoshana- I’m excited to learn more about Israel, specifically the places we are going to this summer! I’m so happy that I have this opportunity to learn about things I wouldn’t have otherwise had the opportunity to learn!

Bayla Rothschild-  I am most excited about learning about topics that I wouldn’t learn otherwise.

Yesterday we went to this place called the salad trail and it was so much fun! We got to experience the delicious fruits and vegetables of Eretz Yisrael! Then we went to an awesome team building experience which was a ton of fun. We got to learn about each girl on Michlelet individually in a fun and laugh filled experience. After that we went back to the Reishit campus just assuming we were going to have a basic dinner and then go to night speaker, but turned out we had a sick night activity that we didn’t know about! All we were told was to bring funky socks and a toothbrush so we were all very confused. But then all of the sudden we got to a trampoline park with the Lev Campus and it was epic!!! Definitely my favorite day of camp so far and I can’t wait for all the fun adventures to come, but as of now I am really having the BEST SUMMER EVER!!

-Tamara Goldman, Toronto

Racheli Ochs is from Passaic, NJ, and is studying marketing in Stern College for Women. She attended Bruriah High School before spending her incredible year in Israel at Michlalah. Racheli is so excited to spend her first summer on Michlelet teaching Torah and making a kosher with the girls! The girls  in Racheli’s Chaburah are Mindy (TAG), Talia (SKA), Penina (Hadar), Sari (TAG), Ayelet (SKA) and Lilli (MHS). Racheli’s Chaburah is called “What is Your Spiritual Makeup.” The goal of the Chaburah is to study different kiddos in order to identify areas in our lives which we would like to work on, keeping in mind that the most durable growth is a growth that is built step by step. Our goal is to gain a clearer understanding of ourselves and how to channel our strengths and embrace our critical unique roles in Klal Yisrael. B’Ezras Hashem, we hope this experience can have application for the rest of our lives.

What is something you are excited about for this summer on Michlelet?

Sari- I’m excited to find something I’m good at in learning and work hard at it and excel in that certain area Im Yirtzah Hashem.

Talia- I’m most looking forward to forming friendships and bonds that will last a lifetime and will be an important part of my growth and improvement as a person.

Ayelet- I’m most excited to grow in my spirituality and gain a greater connection with HaKadosh Baruch Hu and hope to grow along the way. I’m definitely excited to create the greatest of memories and experience the best chagigas and amazing kumzitzs.

Penina- I’m most excited to continue learning with the teachers and Madrichot and absorb all the lessons that they’re teaching.

Mindy- I’m super excited for the Shabbaton up north!

Lilli- I’m really excited to get to see all different places I have never been to all over Israel.

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Today was a day full of firsts. We started off the day with our first homeroom and chaburot, followed by our first chessed trip which was absolutely inspiring! We had multiple options and I got the opportunity to go bake cookies and make cards for lone soldiers. The experience was unforgettable and very impactful. Then we had our first night speaker, Rabbi Dani Marcus, who moved us all with his inspiring words. We then finished off the day with an amazing night activity where we decorated cakes according to the theme of the summer: Brachos. This was another amazing day and definitely one for the books!

-Eliana Berman, Toronto