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Dear Michlelet NCSY Parents,
It’s hard to believe I am sitting here writing our THIRD weekly update already!! What an exceptional, special, meaningful week it was! At Michlelet NCSY, our goal is to provide the girls with a phenomenal experience in everything we do. We have tried to provide excellence in our learning, chessed, and touring we do and the girls have truly experience Torat Eretz Yisroel, Chessed B’Eretz Yisroel and the Magnificent Land itself this week.
Shabbos was once again absolutely beautiful. From Kabbalas Shabbos together, to the beautiful meals filled with singing… the entertaining and enjoyable tisch.. the shiurim from Rabbi Andi Yudin (my husband ) and our guest speaker, Rabbi Gotch Yudin (my brother-in-law).. special thought provoking programs.. fun activities and a gorgeous performance by our choir…magnificent singing at seudah shlishit sitting outside as the sun set…bonding with friends and madrichot…beautiful divrei Torah at our meals from NCSYers Sara Engel, Liba Kurz and Mindi Gelbtuch…, Shabbos on Michlelet is such a highlight of our week!
Motzei shabbos we had a very lively melava malka in which the girls were split up into groups and asked to make Michlelet promotional videos highlighting some of the following things: The tiyulim, accomodations, madrichot, learning, the girls, the head staff and more. The girls all got to enjoy their pizza as they watched all of their friend's video creations. The videos were hysterical and a great time was had by all.
Sunday was another Michlelet wholesome day with learning, chessed and fun. It was a great morning of learning with our phenomenal madrichot and excellent teachers. I love walking around and seeing the girls learning with each other and their madrichot and teachers in these informal settings. It is beautiful and inspiring to see. Then, they got to relax with each other and enjoy activities together.
Sunday afternoon we had the zchut of participating in a beautiful chessed. First, the Michlelet NCSYers packaged chocolates, towels, socks shampoos and soaps beautifully for our chayalim. The girls also attached notes of appreciation and encouragement to our soldiers. Then, we were divided up into three and each group had a chance to go to a different army base and personally deliver the packages and thank the chayalim as we did so. The girls also got a tour of the army bases while there. The chayalim were so touched and appreciative and our Michlelet NCSYers felt so good to be able to give to them and express our Hakarat Hatov. Many thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Mordy and Eva Rothberg, parents of Michlelet NCSYer, Zahava, for sponsoring this chessed to help our chayalim. From there, we stopped at a scenic park and enjoyed a delicious shwarma dinner!
When we got back in the evening, we had the honor of hearing from Rabbi Yisroel Kaminetsky, Menahel of DRS Yeshiva High School for boys, as our night speaker. Rabbi Kaminetsky addressed the current situation in Israel and gave us chizuk by telling us that this summer is unique and that we have the ability to utilize our experience to strengthen our Judaism.
Afterwards, we all joined in a night of kumzits singing, tehillim and inspiration. Although, thank G-d, we feel safe here and away from things, the NCSYers very much felt the need to be a part of the tzarah Klal Yisrael is going through, as our soldiers have started going into Gaza. Each girl received a name of a chayal to daven for and our madrichot provided the girls with words of chizuk and encouragement at these trying times. It was a really special night, with the girls sincere tefilos and voices joined and united in heartfelt song. The girls left feeling empowered to continue to daven and learn strong as well as to continue to do acts of kindness in the merit of the safety of all our brothers and sisters.
Monday morning was another first rate Michlelet day with learning and activities. The girls have really gotten used to and into our schedules here and are delving deeper into their learning. Options of activities included choir, drama, media revolution, softball, soccer, notebook making, pioneering which was tie-dying and fondant creations! In the evening, we had the privilege of hearing from Rabbi Netanel Lebowitz, Menahel Ruchani of Yeshivat Lev Hatorah and Assistant Director of NCSY Kollel. Rabbi Lebowitz explained that every moment is an opportunity for us to define ourselves through our actions and that we are never too young to start defining who we are.
For Night Activity, the campers enjoyed a game of Banana Measures! Each team was given three bananas and a list of wacky things (and people!) around campus to measure with bananas. Once the list was complete the camp celebrated with pareve banana splits!
After Night Acitivity, the girls got pumped up and had an exciting game of basketball against Sulam. The cheering and camp spirit was great. Most of all, our girls were proud of their program and played and acted with exceptional midos. We did not win, but our girls had a great time and played well!
Tuesday was another exceptional morning and afternoon of learning and activities. The girls learned strong and then enjoyed immensely. In between our morning and afternoon learning and activities, we treated the girls to a scrumptious Café Café lunch.
After afternoon learning, we had our night speaker earlier on in the day. We had the pleasure of hearing from Mrs. Leba Schneider, Administrator at Tiferet Institute. Mrs. Schneider spoke of the importance of making the most of our time in world by doing mitzvot and that every mitzvah opportunity we grab leads to another mitzvah opportunity. We so appreciate the speakers who have taken time out to travel all the way up to the North to us to speak to us!
In the evening, we had the really exciting opportunity to go to a water park rented out just for NCSY!! The girls had an exhilarating, splashing time and we ended off the evening with a pizza dinner.
Wednesday was an extraordinary Tiyul Day. The Tiyulim are a time for the girls to really get attached to and know the land of Israel. We started off the day with two tracks. The girls got to choose to go on a hike, and feel the land of Israel with their feet, or go to a farm and pick the fruits of Eretz Yisrael. The girls who chose to hike, hiked Nachal Zivatan. This hike is along Nachal Zavitan, the longest river in the Golan and ends overlooking a beautiful waterfall. The girls who chose to pick fruits, picked delicious plums and nectarines and really enjoyed themselves. Both groups had a great time, each making up a cheer about where they went. For lunch, we ordered yummy felafels which the girls enjoyed. All the Michlelet NCSYers got to experience the Dekarina Chocolate Factory at some point during the day. There, the girls watched a movie on the history of chocolate, then got a tour of the factory where they hand make all the chocolate. They were then able to each make their own individual chocolate bar, truffles, and pralines and they got to see how chocolate is made and taste it as well. Everyone enjoyed. All the girls went to and Outdoor Training Ropes Course as well. The Michlelet NCSYers had to work in groups accomplishing various challenging team building activities. The activities required them to develop positive leadership skills, respect and teamwork.
Wednesday evening, we had the distinct pleasure of hearing from Rabbi Noam Fix, principal of Tomer Devorah Seminary, as our night speaker. Rabbi Fix spoke about the importance of chessed and explained chessed as going outside of yourself, being sensitive to others and that doing chesed is a way to emulate Hashem.
After he spoke, the Michlelet NCSYers got to partake in something most had never done before. Those who went fruit picking, put their plums together and then nectarines together and got to do the mitzvah of taking terumos and maasros for the very first time! My husband explained the halachot, and we spoke of the yearning for the time when we can actually separate trumot and maasros and give it to the Leviim and Kohanim instead. It was such a beautiful sight to behold.
Thursday we started off our day with solid learning and activities. In the afternoon, we got to partake in a very moving chessed opportunity. The girls got busy decorating and packaging the following into each little bag: two tea lights and a paper which had the time of candlelighting, the bracha for candlelighting and a special prayer for the chayalim. Then, we went to three different places in Katzrin and the girls handed out these beautiful packages to the women of Katzrin. Many, who normally don’t light candles for Shabbos, took the packages and were so touched when the girls told them to light and say this special tefilah in the merit of a protection for our soldiers. Two chayalot in particular were so moved, and walked away clutching the packages to their heart. The girls really displayed true ahavat yisrael and made a real Kiddush Hashem. May the merit of all the women of Klal Yisroel lighting candles this Shabbos and all our acts of goodness everywhere, indeed be a source of protection for our chayalim and all of Am Yisrael. The girls were proud of the opportunity to spread ahavat chinam and the light of Shabbos.
When we returned, we had dinner and had the z’chus of hearing from Mrs. Elisheva Kaminetsky, director of religious guidance at SKA, and beloved teacher and source of guidance to so many. Mrs. Kaminetsky spoke about the universality of Tehillim and how it can be personalized to any given situation or person. It very much spoke to us during these difficult times for Am Yisrael. Afterwards, for Night Activity, the girls were transported in time and place to the near future of the third Beit Hamikdash in Yerushalayim! They were given the task of completing Aliyah Laregel with their "families". Along the way they had to buy a korban, give terumah and maaser, visit their Saba and Savta, sing with the leviim, stop in meah shearim and so much more! The girls had a blast! It was a huge success! We even got to enjoy the participation of Rebetzin Shoshana Schachter who joined in for the activities.
This morning, the girls got to relax and enjoy walking around at the Teveriah Tayelet with their madrichot.
We are looking forward to another superb and dynamite Shabbos here at Michlelet NCSY and are excited to have Rabbi Avraham Willig as our guest speaker this Shabbos.
Please remember to check out our pictures, and weekly recap videos on our blog at michlelet.ncsy.org
With hopes of security and peace for all of Am Yisrael,
Rivka Yudin
yudinr@ncsy.org
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