Talia is from Cedarhurst, NY, and attends Queens College. Talia is so excited to be a Madricha who can learn with and from the campers on Michlelet this summer!!!

The NCSYers in Talia’s chabura are Matti Fuld (Teaneck,NJ), Estee Sabbah-Dery (Fair Lawn, NJ), Shira Shitrit (Queens, NY), and Deena Stiefel (Atlanta, GA)!!!

Talia’s chabura focuses on the beautiful Tefilot we recite each morning. Starting off with Birchot Hashachar and ending with Aleinu, her chabura will be gaining an appreciation and confidence to WANT to daven each day; and to view Tefilah as an AWESOME opportunity to talk to our Avinu Shabashamayim!!!

Q- If you could bang into any DOOR in Reishis which one would it be and why?

Matti- Beit Midrash!! Because that only means that I was sooo excited to go in!!!

Estee- Talia’s classroom!! Because I know I’m going to be learning something that’s important to me!!!

Shira- The Kitchen!!! Because I know there very welcoming in there, they have great food, and I’m hungry a lot!!

Deena- The Entrance!!! Because I would be eager to see everyone and learn Torah!!!

Miri Korbman is from Elizabeth,NJ. She went to Bruriah for high school, then spent a year and a half in Michlalah and is now a Junior in Touro Manhattan majoring in psychology.

The girls in Miri’s chaburah are Atara Huberfeld (Woodmere, NY), Tani Kahan (Monsey, NY), Rebecca Sturm (Woodmere, NY), and Kayla Ghermezian (Riverdale, NY).

Miri’s chaburah topic is “menuchat hanefesh,” peace of mind. The chaburah focuses on what it means to have peace of mind from a Torah perspective; what is menuchat hanefesh? Why do we care? In what ways does having a sense of inner calm alleviate our worries and anxieties and enable us to be more productive, accomplishing, happy friends, daughters, and Jews? The girls in Miri’s chaburah learn about different factors teenagers in today’s society face which inhibit our sense of inner peace and make it difficult to feel calm and contented with life’s challenges, big and small. The goal of the chaburah is to learn how to tap into menuchat hanefesh in all situations, to transcend the chaotic hustle and bustle of the unsatisfied, anxiety-ridden world around us. Miri’s chaburah views the journey to menuchat hanefesh like building a house. Bitachon, trust in Gd, is the foundation of all inner peace and contentedness, while a true sense of humility and an ability to overcome jealousy are the walls that stand on that foundations; lastly, prayer is the roof which protects and shields us from worry and anxiety and keeps our menuchat hanefesh protected and intact. Through learning about these and other important midot and Torah values connected to menuchat hanefesh, such as shabbos, leadership, and self-esteem, we are enhancing our relationships with ourselves, with Gd, and with others. Our motto is: We are where we need to be- just breathe 🙂

What’s one thing you learned in our chaburah that you will carry with you through the year and one of your favorite menuchas hanefesh related quotes?

Atara: “Being ok with where you are because Hashem’s in control. ‘The way I see it, every life is a pile of good things and bad things- the good things don’t always soften the bad things but vice versa- the bad things don’t necessarily spoil the good things and make them unimportant.'”

Rebecca: “Menuchat hanefesh doesn’t mean being “chilled” at all times- it means reacting to life’s situations and challenges in the right way “football quote.”‘

Tani: “Relax, everything will be ok, you’re in Hashem’s hands!! “Everything I need I have and everything I have I need.”

Kayla: “It’s about being chilled- but not frozen; menuchas hanefesh isn’t about sitting by and letting life pass- it helps us be active participants in life- just chilled ones! “Keep calm and carry on- with menuchas hanefesh.”

Dena Lichtman, from Hillside, NJ, is thrilled to be back on Michlelet as a madricha after spending an exciting summer here as a camper!

The NCSYers in Dena’s chabura are: Sara Axel (New York, NY), Tehila Finkelstein (Teaneck, NJ), Nechama Deena Korenblit (Passaic, NJ), and Temima Kermaier (Baltimore, MD).

In Dena’s chabura, we learn the psychology behind different colors and find places in Tanach where those colors are mentioned. Then we learn about a middah connected to that color. It gives a totally new perspective on things we’ve been learning since kindergarten. We look back at the basics and with our new understanding of colors we see that it’s not so simple after all.

Sara: “I love learning things in my classes and chaburas that I’ve been taught in school but now have a totally different spin. I never looked at things in that way! It’s an awesome balance between crazy tiyulim and meaningful speeches! I love Michlelet!

Temima: “The accepting atmosphere in Michlelet is amazing. In Michlelet it doesn’t matter where you live or what you look like. Everybody is respected as a person who can be learned from.”

Nechama Deena: “I love the well balanced atmosphere of Michlelet.”

Tehila: “I love the balance on Michlelet of the learning, tiyulim, activities, and just having fun. The people really make the program great. The madrichot and staff are amazing and all the girls are so friendly and accepting. I love Michlelet!”

Davina Sagoskin, from Yardley, Pennsylvania, is currently in Stern College majoring in Jewish Education. Davina is having an awesome summer on Michlelet NCSY and loves learning with and from her campers.

The NCSYers in Davina’s chabura are Aliza Hersch (Woodmere, NY), Chaya Sarah Shippel (New York, NY), Tamar Rosenfeld (Lawrence, NY), and Goldy Weissman (Cedarhurst, NY).

Davina’s chabura focuses on how the Torah defines true simcha and how we can apply that to different aspects of our lives and become happier people.

We defined true happiness as a response one feels when they know they are doing the right thing and are connected to Hashem.

We explored different areas where we can find true happiness in our day to day lives such as the joy through achievement, appreciation, trusting G-d, tefilla, and resistance just to name a few!

Tamar: “Our chabura is learning about simcha and the environment on Michlelet where we learn Torah every day with such incredible people is truly the best place to achieve that goal.”

Aliza: “It’s not just about spending 45 minutes in chabura, but learning about simcha has made me want to apply all that I learned to my everyday life and share it with others.”

Chaya Sarah: “Learning about happiness throughout the summer has taught me to incorporate these ideas and apply them to everyday life. Michlelet has taught me to be happy and excited about learning whether in a chabura or in a teacher class.”

Goldy: “You’re never fully dressed without a smile. Michlelet has helped me to become a truly happy person.”

We have had an unbelievable and jam packed last 2 days on Michlelet NCSY!
Yesterday we had the zechus of making a wedding on our own from start to finish and it was a truly incredible experience! Today we had a day on campus filled with learning, activities, and fun. Our guest speaker was Rabbi Ari Winter, the previous director of Michlelet NCSY. Tomorrow we are off to the North on a special 3 day tiyul, including spending shabbos in Tzfat!
Check out our pictures! Have a beautiful shabbos!!

Rena Stahler grew up in Lawrence, New York and is currently attending Queens College. She is excited to be on Michlelet for her first time this summer and is having the Best. Summer. Ever.

The NCSYers in Rena’s chabura are Rivka Gutmann (Passaic, NJ), Tamar Rappoport (Alon Shvut, Israel), Dassi Solomson (Silverspring, MD), and Gaby Stemp (Queens, NY).

Rena’s chabura is on the Rambam’s Thirteen Principles of Faith. We are learning each of the thirteen אני מאמין together.

The main focus of the chabura is to strengthen our belief in G-d and Judaism and build a greater connection with Hashem.

Tamar: “Michlelet is a jam packed summer with activities, trips, and learning. I’m never bored and feel like I’m spending my summer in a productive way.”
Gaby: “The chaburot give us a chance to learn something new and insightful that we wouldn’t have the opportunity to learn in any other setting.”
Rivka: “Along with the great learning, being in Israel gives me a greater appreciation for my homeland.”
Dassi: “When I signed up for Michlelet, I didnt realize the full scope of the program. I’ve participated in so many new activities that I would not otherwise  have experienced, while making new friends, and expanding my understanding my Judaism in chaburot.”

We had an amazing tiyul day today!!!

We began in Gush Etzion on a fun hike in a water aquaduct and from there traveled to Chevron to daven at Me’arat Hamachpeila, as well as to Kever Rachel.

For night activity tonight we celebrated the “bat mitzvah” of our activity coordinators, Atara and Mimi! We were also privileged tonight to hear Rabbi Micha Greenland, the interim international director of NCSY.

Check out our pictures to see all the fun we had today! Stay tuned for more!!!