Dear Michlelet NCSY Parents, amu”sh
Another exceptional week on Michlelet has gone by. What an awesome week it was; filled with such meaning, purpose and absolute thrill!
It is with conflicted feelings that I write you this last weekly update, before our sixth Shabbos, here at Michlelet NCSY 2015. On the one hand, it is so sad that Michlelet is ending. They are such a fantastic group of girls with so much positivity and enthusiasm and have grown so much in so many ways. I am honestly absolutely blown away by them!! I have enjoyed the girls so much! On the other hand, it is so nice to look back and see how much we have accomplished this summer. We have shared so many outstanding, glorious memories and important experiences.
There were many highlights this week, and as I’m sure you’ve been doing all summer long, you can get a small glimpse of the goings on here on our daily blogs and website. Learning excitedly in chaburahs and shiurim, guest speakers, fun night activities, rappelling, water hiking, davening at the Kever of the Rambam, bonding, laughing, activities, visiting the blind museum to sensitize ourselves to the challenges of the visually impaired, dancing, dancing and more dancing and so many other first rate experiences.
To me, though, there are three events in particular that stand out and blend together into the magnificent balance of everything Michlelet NCSY has to offer. We have connected with our rich heritage, our magnificent and perfect Torah, with Klal Yisrael, Eretz Yisrael, with incredible friends and inspiring staff and madrichot, all in the context of a fun, exciting, fast paced summer with unparalleled experiences.
The first was the tremendous privilege we had to hear from Rav Mayer Twersky, shlita this week. Rav Twersky spoke about the importance and beauty of emuna and of practical ways to acquire emuna. Afterwards, the Michlelet NCSYers had the extraordinary privilege to ask Rav Twersky questions on the topic of emuna. The questions were excellent, thought out and very impressive. They reflected the high caliber of our girls and how much thought and attention they each give to their avodat Hashem. The girls were able to tap into so much of what the summer has imparted to them; the ability to love and appreciate Hashem’s Torah and to really think and contemplate theological concepts. The honor they accorded Rav Twersky and the awe with which they sat and listened to his words of Torah and wisdom showed me just how much they have grown in their love and respect for Torah this summer.
Another special time for me this week was the day of the magnificent wedding the Michlelet NCSYers made this week. It was so touching to see how the girls really put their heart and soul into all the preparations….Shlepping and setting tables and chairs, setting the tables, centerpieces, chuppah, yichud room, mechitzot, the Kallah chair, shtick, preparing food arrangements. Then came time for the wedding. They served and waitressed and were absolutely unbelievable. The wedding was absolutely gorgeous; the Kallah beautiful, ecstatic and glowing!! Her mother not only thanked me countless times for the exquisite wedding, but could not stop thanking me for the incredible ruach and pure happiness the girls danced with. They made the wedding so leibadik, danced with their heart and soul and the dance floor was literally rocking. They gave the young couple a beautiful wedding, both aesthetically, and in the unbelievable spirit and love they displayed!!
The Kallah and her family couldn’t get over the devotion and amount of effort the Michlelet NCSYer’s put in, and how gorgeous and beyond their greatest expectations the wedding turned out.
Wednesday morning, the girls woke up with the thought, “Oh my goodness! We actually made a wedding last night!” echoing in their minds. This couple began to build their home in Klal Yisrael with a most beautiful wedding because of our girls!
This scene to me, brings home another one of the magnificent ways we have bonded and grown over the summer; a feeling of connection to our entire nation!! They put in so much effort for someone they only met once at the bridal shower we had made a few weeks ago!! They also danced with such pure real joy!! This was a true display of Ahavat Yisrael and characteristic of so much of what we have tried to impart in our Michlelet NCSYers this summer!
The last of the many magical scenes that stick out in my mind this week, is that of our touching banquet last night. This truly brought it all together. We heard from Michlelet NCSYers Ariella Benovitz, Eliana Feifel, Kayla Samet and Noa Silverstein. Each echoed the idea over and over again how much they loved to learn now, how proud they were to be Jews, how connected they felt through the chessed and touring we did, how much fun they had and how much they felt they grew this summer! But the one theme that came through loud and clear throughout the night was how they each felt like we had become a family here at Michlelet in the last six weeks. How close they felt to each other and the bond they felt which was unbeatable because they not only shared so much fun and excitement this summer but so much growth as well! In fact, I overheard in the halls of the dorm afterwards, “They’re not just my friends, they’re literally like my sisters! It’s crazy because we’re only here six weeks but I feel like I grew so much!!!”
A most stirring part of the banquet for me was the end, when everyone danced together. To me, that represented so much of our summer as well! The strong bond felt, the excitement and unbelievable energy and fun so characteristic of our summer, the sense of a feeling of accomplishment felt in the room, was palpable as we moved to the beat of the music together.
Of course, we still have Shabbos together ahead of us, which we are all really looking forward to!
Thank you for a most extraordinary, beautiful summer! I have been so inspired by your daughters!
Have a wonderful Shabbos,
Rivka Yudin