Summer 2017

Tovi Schoonmaker lives in Jerusalem and attended Ko Tomar Highschool in Ramat Bet Shemesh.

Tovi is presently studying Occupational Therapy in Mivchar which is a branch of Haifa University.

The incredible girls in Tovi’s chaburah are: Nechama Green (FL), Zisi Grossman (NY), Chana Pinzower (NY) and Gitty Boshnack (NY).

Tovi’s chabura focuses on personal development via an analysis of one’s character traits through the eyes of Torah, Chazal and contemporary Jewish sources.

Tovi’s goal is for the girls in her chabura to reach a deeper level of self awareness on important topics like happiness, patience, gratitude, judging people favorably etc.

What was your favorite night activity on michlelet and Why?

Nechama Green: the mich-give basketball game was my favorite night activity because it showed the tremendas unity between the NCSY programs.

Zisi Grossman: My favorite night activity was the mystery Ijump trip. It was beautiful that in just a few short weeks eneryone was able to jump, cheer,and have fun together. When you see such unity the only thing you can say is  “עם ישראל חי”.

Chana Pinzower: The bridal shower was my favorite night activity. Seeing the כלה’s happiness have me שמחה and I know if gave נחת  to ה’. I was able to be משמח חתן וכלה in the most genuine and elevated level.

Gitty Boshnack: The talent show. It was amazing to see each girls indvidual talent. Everyone has something special about them that makes them unique, And this is why I love michlelet, so many girls from different places coming to Israel to learn and have fun together.

Rivka Greenberg grew up in the great city of Chicago, Illinois and then learned in the even greater city of Yerushalaim Ir Hakodesh for a year and a half in Michlalah and MMY. Although she is currently studying computer science in Stern College, informal Jewish education is her real passion and she is absolutely thrilled to be an advisor on the one and only NCSY Michlelet.

The awesome girls in Rivka’s chabura are Tehila Kornwasser from New Jersey, Aliza Mosenkis from Ohio, Talia Wein from New York, and Bracha Weinberger from Pennsylvania. They spend their days learning about parallels between the physical world and the spiritual world, infusing meaning and kedusha into their daily lives, and counting down the days till Shabbos.

If you were a famous speaker, what would your message to the world be?

Aliza Mosenkis: Strive to never make anyone feel that you don’t care

Tehila Kornwasser: Live life knowing that you and every single person around you is here for a specific purpose

Talia Wein: The importance of every little action and word

Bracha Weinberger: Know when to apologize

Tova Wieder is from Teaneck, New Jersey and just finished her first semester of Stern College for Women. She attended Maayanot for high school and then spent a year and a half in Shaalvim for Women.

The incredible girls in Tova’s home room are Riva Charnowitz (Woodmere, New York), Hana Adler (Cedarhurst, New York), Sara Raizl Siegelman (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) and Tehila Lowe (Woodmere, New York).

Tova’s chaburah goes through Rav Avigdor Miller’s 10 Steps to Greatness. Each step is a different, seemingly unconnected action. The common theme between these steps is the fact that they make us focus on the environment that we are in and recognize HaShem in our everyday lives.

How have you incorporated one of these steps or ideas into your everyday life?

Tehila Lowe- One lesson that I have learned and this summer is strengthening my fellow Jew, both physically and emotionally. Just like a smile has a rippling effect, one small act of kindness does too. If everyone tries to lift up the people around them, mashiach will be one step closer.

Riva Charnowitz- One lesson that I took really close to heart was when we learned how important it is to do an act of kindness for someone when nobody else knows. I really liked this idea because nowadays everyone is trying to show their best self to everyone. People try to tell their whole life story to someone online that they won’t even know. So from what I understand when your doing an act of kindness for someone you are solely doing it for the purpose of Hashem. Theres no need to tell anyone else about that good deed that you did for someone else. Also when you do an act of kindness for someone else when you tell people what you have done, it just downgrades the potential of the nice deed. At the end of the day you will feel happier knowing that you did that act of kindness and you did it for only you and Hashem

Sara Raizl- The truth of Torah ideas are so apparent in these lessons when each step can be seen to overlap with another. For me, thinking of the world to come leads me to the thought process of doing things for the sake of Hashem.

Hana Adler- One step I incorporated in my life was step 6, “do everything L’sheim shemayim”. I set a reminder on my phone to go off every night before I go to bed saying “Ask Hashem 8 hours of sleep- to feel refreshed for tomorrow and have a great uplifting day”.

In keeping with our time theme of the summer, our tiyul today bridged the past with the present by including both historical and modern-day experiences. We started out with a visit to Kfar Kedem and had a taste of what life was like in years gone by. After a delicious Israeli style lunch, we really got into the spirit and made sure we looked and acted the part. We dressed up like shepherds, milked goats, baked fresh pita bread, and even rode on donkeys! We then had a more modern-day experience and were given the opportunity to both swim in and jump on the Kineret…that’s right, we jumped both in and ON the sea!! Aqua Kef, a floating water park in Israel, definitely lives up to its name and the girls on Michlelet had a great time during their visit. All in all, it was another all-around fantastic day here on Michlelet and we’re excited to see what tomorrow has in store!

Goldy Weissman is from Cedarhurst, NY. She went to TAG and then Michlalah for a year and a half. Currently, she attends Touro College and is pursuing a degree in speech therapy. She went on Michlelet as a camper for two summers and is so excited to be back as a madricha!

The awesome girls in Goldy’s chaburah are Kayla Goldberg (Los Angeles, CA), Rena Brody (Far Rockaway, NY), Daniella Cohen (Lawrence, NY), and Mindy Schrek (Woodmere, NY)!

Goldy’s chabura is called “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Michlelet Girls.” It is based on The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. In her chabura, she goes through each of the seven habits listed in the book and discusses how each habit relates to a different midda or general life attitude. For example, one of the seven habits is “be proactive, not reactive,” and the girls learned about the midda of Zrizus! Through internalizing the different lessons found in the book, the ultimate goal is to learn to live truly effective lives.

What did you come to camp without that you are leaving with?

Kayla Goldberg: When I came on to Michlelet I didn’t know any girls on the program. One of the amazing parts of this program was that I was able to meet new girls very quickly, and Baruch Hashem I am leaving Michlelet with over 130 new friends.

Daniela Cohen: Coming to camp I didn’t have as much of appreciation for being a Jew. Walking around Israel and feeling a part of a united people is the best feeling in the world. Going to different Shuls around Eretz Yisroel and hearing the same exact words in Beit Shemesh, Efrat and Yerushalayim being said on Shabbos morning filled me with a sense of unity and pride to be part of a greater whole- the Jewish nation.

Mindy Schrek: I’m more in tune with my emunah now. I’m able to accept challenges more easily because I know they’re from hashem and it’s meant to happen

Rena Brody: Coming to camp I knew that I wanted to grow but I didn’t know exactly on what or how to get there. Here in camp, I am getting more of an idea of the person I want to become and I’m clearer on how to get there

Today was an incredible day on Michlelet! We began with homeroom, chaburahs, and teacher shiurs and then started our wedding prep! Each summer we have the opportunity to put together a wedding for a special young couple. We were split up into jobs such as decorating arches, setting tables, making center pieces, decorating the mechitzahs, chuppah and more! Working together to create this beautiful event was fulfilling, fun, and really connected us as a unit! We danced the night away with the kallah and her family. It was a night we definitely won’t forget, as we feel so fortunate to had been able to be part of this tremendous simcha!

Dana Gage is from Merrick, New York. She went to SKA for high school and spent a year and a half in Shaalvim for Women. She is currently a student at Barnard College of Columbia University and is psyched to be spending her first summer on Michlelet!!!

Dana’s Chaburah is about kumzitz songs in Tanach. The girls together go through the Perek that each song comes from, the mepharshim’s comments on the Perek, and other related sources. They discuss themes of the songs and what practical lessons they teach us.

The members of Dana’s chaburah are Adina Preiser (Israel), Nava Yastrab (NY), and Miri Biderman (NY).

What is your favorite part of Tanach and why?

Miri: “My favorite book in tanach is the whole Sefer shmuel because in general it is a fascinating story. But also because it shows people going through difficult times and for the most part using those experiences to better themselves. The Sefer also discusses topics that aren’t always talked about in Judaism such as witchcraft and the destruction of the Mishmar Shiloh.”

Nava: “My favorite part of tanach is lechlicha since it’s Avraham Avinu’s story. It shows that if we push ourselves and work hard there’s almost nothing we can’t do. Though the path may seem rough and sometimes impossible we can always accomplish what we set out to do. Avraham had to go through so much but because of him we have Judaism. He shows us that if we work hard and listen to God and the sky’s the limit.”

Adina: “My favorite sefer is Yehoshua because it shows the connection between the Jewish people and the land of Israel.”

Sheva Hamaoui is from Lawrence, NY, and is currently studying psychology in Lander College for Women. She attended SKA High School before she spent a year and a half in Darchei Binah. Sheva is so excited by the opportunity to return to Michlelet as a madricha and be a part of the program that benefitted her so much as a camper.

The girls in Sheva’s Chabura are Ahuva Greenbaum (Far Rockaway, NY), Fayge Leah Bistritzky (Flatbush, NY), Ayelet Pfeiffer (Bergenfield, NJ) and Tehila Rothbort (West Hempstead, NY).

Sheva’s chabura is called “Getting to Know Yourself.” The goal is for each girl to reach a higher level of self-awareness and to become familiar with her individual strengths and weaknesses. By understanding who we are, we can then work on developing the kochos within us and take the proper steps towards becoming the person we want to be. Throughout the summer, the girls learn about how different middos come up in the Torah, challenges associated with obtaining it, and practical ways to apply the lesson to their lives and improve in the middah. Each chabura ends by posing both a “reflection question” to think about, helping the girls become more self-aware, as well as a “challenge” to work on regarding the specific middah.

What would you tell a future Michlelet girl?

Ahuva Greenbaum: “Come to camp excited about the learning. As scary as it might sound that we learn a lot, the madrichot make it exciting.”

Fayge Leah Bistritzky: “I would tell a future Michlelet girl to be open-minded to learning even if she hasn’t appreciated learning beforehand. Learning on Michlelet is more enjoyable than learning in a typical classroom setting because instead of being taught information for a test, we are taught in an environment that makes Torah personal and encourages us to grow.”

Ayelet Pfeiffer: “Enjoy every minute of learning and being in Israel.”

Tehila Rothbort: “I would tell a future Michlelet girl that she is going to have one of the most inspiring and incredible summers of her life. Everything about Michlelet is amazing, from the singing on Shabbos to the touring and learning. She just needs to take advantage of and appreciate every moment because it goes by so fast.”

Shana Rosenberg is from Chicago, Illinois. She went to Ida Crown Jewish Academy for high school and spent a year in Shaalvim for Women. Shana is currently studying at Stern College for Women and is having an amazing time on her first summer on Michlelet!

Shana’s chabura is about the Yud Gimmel Midot Shel Rachamim (the 13 attributes of mercy). In the chabura they learn about each midah and learn practical ways to emulate that midah in everyday life. The girls learn that through exemplifying each midah of Hashem, they can improve their relationships with and come closer to Hashem.

The amazing girls in Shana’s homeroom are Daniella Kluk (Chicago, IL), Emily Shamalov (Queens, NY), Shoshana Farkas (Cleveland, OH), and Eliana Hirsch (West Hempstead, NY).

What’s one thing you’ve learned on Michlelet that you’re going to take with you for life?

Daniella Kluk: The importance and necessity of doing Chesed. We made a carnival for almost 150 kids from Sderot. At the carnival, the gym was filled with the sound of laughter and young children running hand in hand with Michlelet girls. This carnival had the biggest impact on me because i saw directly the results of my chesed and enjoyed myself while making the kids happy. Michlelet has given me the opportunity to learn as well as do chesed and we learned that you cannot do one without the other, both are needed.

Emily Shamalov: Reaching out to others. On Michlelet, we have the incredible privilege to do chesed projects and trips. Either packing food for soldiers or painting a house it always feels amazing to reach out to others and give them help that comes from our heart. The best feeling is when you come out of there and feel like you completed such an amazing Mitzvah and it feels so good in your heart. That definitely made a very big impact on my life and I will hopefully take it with me for the rest of my life.

Shoshana Farkas: Respecting others even if they are different from us. Michlelet has ingrained in me that the Jewish people are one and we as a nation are responsible for each other. In order to be responsible for each other we need to first love each other. On Michlelet we love each other and care for one another and as this summer is coming to a close we need to use that love for the Jewish people and see how we can incorporate it back at home.

Eliana Hirsch: I learned about different people’s stories and how it impacted them in life. I think it’s cool that people are able to learn and grow from their struggles and I hope to be able to learn from every experience I have in life and grow as a result.