Leora Weiss is from West Hempstead New York. She went to HANC High School, and then headed over to Midreshet Moriah for Shana Alef and Shana Bet. She is currently studying in Queens College. This is her first year on Michlelet NCSY and she is having an incredible summer!
She is having the time of her life both teaching and learning with the amazing girls in her Chaburah: Elisheva Ismach (Great Neck, NY), Yael Scheinman (Woodmere, NY) Shirly Kapetas (Cedarhurst, NY), and Elisheva Monczyk (Far Rockaway, NY)
Leora’s Chaburah is called: “Opening our eyes to what’s already in front of us-‘טמעו וראו כי טוב ה.” The goal of the Chaburah is to take different topics in Yiddishkeit and learn a deeper and more meaningful way of looking, connecting to and experiencing them. Our guiding principle is as follows: it is one thing to see something with your eyes and it is another level to be able to taste it. For example, we learned the importance of disconnecting from the outside world on Shabbos in order to connect to the inner Kedusha of it. Another topic we covered discussed the important link between our physical body and the physical world; recognizing this link allows us to connect and see Hashem through the things that we already have. One last example, that might be Leora’s favorite, was her shiur on Eretz Yisrael. First they went through the sources in the Torah and then went on to focus on the Pnemuis in order to really make it apart of their daily Avodas HaShem!
Leora is sad to think that there is only one week left to this amazing summer, and is excited to make sure that every last second is taken advantage of until landing back in JFK!
Whats the most inspiring experience you had since being on Michlelet?
Elisheva Ismach: “The most inspiring and uplifting places I’ve experienced in the past 5 weeks was har hertzel. We went right after leaving yad vashem where we saw the names and pictures and stories of millions who were killed only because they were HaShems children, to a cemetery filled with fallen soldiers and generals who died protecting Hashems land. It was a beautiful place and it was extremely sad to see hundreds of those that were killed but at the same time is was hopeful and inspiring to see those who made so many sacrifices for us and risked their lives for the Jewish people and Jewish land. It made us ask ourselves, what do we want to do for the Jewish people and land? Just like each of those 6,000,000 that died in the holocaust each had their own story and we should look at each of them individually, each of these fallen soldiers had their own story too. It’s not about the whole number it’s about each person, where they come from, what they went though and what they accomplished. And at har hertzel we heard these stores and saw these pictures and it made a huge impact and inspired me to continue davening for those protecting us that they should come home safely.”
Elisheva Monczyk: “My most meaningful and inspiring experience on michlelet so far was making the sderot carnival because it put smiles on so many children’s faces who are impacted with trauma sorrow in their daily lives.”
Shirly Kapetas: “The entire Michlelet experience has been an amazing inspiration for me. There was Yom NCSY when 1700 people united, no matter how religious, and danced the night away as one! There were people from all different parts of the spectrum and it was beautiful to see everyone united! Another amazing experience was going to Har Hertzel. It was a day which helped me realize that there are people daily risking their lives so my people can live in our home safely. I never felt that great feeling of gratitude for people I didn’t know. We also heard the stories of just a few of the soldiers which saddened me because I wanted to hear them all. Each of the people buried there had a unique story that touched someone. We also had TJJ Ambassadors come to Michlelet to make a bridal shower. When we united together, no matter our differences, to do a chessed for a Russian bride-to-be it gave me true simcha. I went to sleep that night, like I do most nights on Michlelet, with a smile and a lasting thought that today was a lm amazing day that will remain forever in my heart.”
Yael Scheinman: “One experience that really inspired me was when the TJJA girls joined us to make a bridal shower for an immigrant bride who cannot afford a wedding. As one of the Shana Bet trips, we had the opportunity to go to a Gemach in Har Nof to buy the presents for the bride. We got to dance with the bride and personally give her the presents that we purchased. Seeing the look on her face after she received every present was truly inspiring. It taught me to really take time to show my appreciation for things that I would normally take for granted. This is only one of them many inspiring experiences I have had over this past summer, but it stands out the most because it was also an opportunity for us to inspire others while being inspired.”