Summer 2017

Meet Becca Rauch from Lawrence, New York. She attended SKA for High School and Michlalah for seminary. Becca is currently studying in Queens College and is having an incredible summer on Michlelet.

Becca’s chabura is on incorporating the leaders of our generation into our lives. She mainly focuses on the middos we can practically take from Rebbetzin Machlis and Rebbetzin Kanievsky. Becca hopes that her chabura will allow the girls to look to our leaders and have them as role models. It is extremely important to lean on our tzadikkim as is says in Shemonah Esrei, “al hatzadikkim…”

The girls in Becca’s chabura are Arianna Balk(NJ), Arielle Lipsky(NY), Tamar Herschberg(NY), Ayelet Wein(NY).

What is one thing you have noticed in your summer so far that you have taken from learning about our two rebbetzins?

Arianna-“No matter how difficult something can get or hard something can be to deal with to always know that Hashem has a plan and that theres so much more to the situation and to the world than we realize.”

Ayelet- “I learned from rebbetzin machlis it doesn’t matter how someone was brought up to be an amazing person and a role model.”

Arielle- “I learned that there is always a positive side of a person. Even if you think that there is nothing positive to someone, you have to have an eyin tova and look for the positive in everyone.”

Tamar- “That just like Rebbetzin machlis was a ‘normal’ kid-she went to central- she became amazing and transformed herself. So just like she did so could I.

Today we had our first Yom Iyun of the summer: iDay – Swipe to unlock your best self, regarding the roll technology plays in our lives.  The day began with an introduction shiur by Rabbi Benovitz, Director of NCSY Kollel.  We then split up into small groups and did round robin style as we heard from different madrichot about the pros and cons of technology, how to use technology properly, and more. We ended the Yom Iyun by writing letters to our future children. 

In the afternoon, we had regular afternoon chaburot and teacher shiurim. During free time there was an optional trip to Kever Rochel. It was a very moving trip to experinece on Rosh Chodesh Av.

After dinner, we heard from Rabbi Noam Fix followed by beautiful late night learning. Night activity was a blast from the past as we had an awesome science fair. Topping off our fully packed day, we ended our night with a Camper vs Madricha basketball game…won by the campers!! Another day well spent on Michlelet 5777!

We had the tremendous opportunity to do chessed on Michlelet today. Our day started off with davening and breakfast as usual, which then lead into our chaburahs! We had an early lunch and then boarded the busses and headed to two different locations- a gan and a youth center, where we had an amazing time repainting both places, leaving them looking close to brand new! When we got back to campus we had some free time before hearing from Shoshana Schechter, a professor at Stern College. We then enjoyed a pizza dinner sponsored by YU. After dinner, we heard from Mrs. Elisheva Kaminestky and had Michlelet’s first ever Annual Spelling Bee, going along with this weeks theme, The Past. Today was truly another great day on Michlelet!

Jordana Levine is from Woodmere, New York. She went to SKA for high school and spent her year in Israel at Tiferet. Jordana is currently studying in Stern College for Women and is very excited to be spending her first summer on Michlelet!

Jordana’s chaburah is about the Asseret Hadibrot. She goes through each dibrah and expands on them allowing the girls to connect to each one. Jordana hopes that by the end of her chaburot the girls will feel that the Asseret Hadibrot are timeless and relevant to the world that we live in.

The girls in Jordana’s chaburah are:
Adina Strong (NJ)
Penina Rosenbaum (FL)
Eliana Teichman (NJ)
Shani Klier (NY)

What was the best experience you have had in Israel?

Adina- Swimming with dolphins in Eilat I was able to recognize the beauty of the yam suf and I connected to it because that Is where my ancestors crossed through. It really brought Tanach to life and strengthened my love for Israel.

Penina- One of my favorite experiences of this summer so far was the special Shana Bet scavenger hunt through the old city. It was something I’ve never done before and enjoyed learning new facts about the area while having a great time with my friends.

Eliana- My favorite moment on michlelet was when the TJJ Ambassadors came to join our learning and activities. Together we made a bridal shower, learned together, and heard inspiring speeches. Not only was this an educational experience for TJJ, but this was an amazing learning experience for me as well.

Shani- I really liked going to yad eliezer Because I got to help so many people without even realizing and I had fun at the same time.

Shana Weiser is from Lower Merion, Pennsylvania and is currently a senior in Touro College Manhattan studying biology to eventually become a physicians assistant. Before that, she was lucky enough to spend a year studying Torah in Michlalah. Shana is pumped to be on Michlelet for her second summer as staff and she is also loving being the Madricha for Shana Bet!
The amazing and inspiring girls in Shana’s Chabura are Mindy Lowy (Lawrence), Shana Schwalb (West Hempstead), Ariella Wolf (Atlanta), and Julia Blumenthal (Woodmere).

Shana’s Chabura is called “Wonder Women: Lessons from Jewish Women throughout History”. Shana goes through different women through Jewish history such as Esther, Rut, Chulda, Sarah Schenirer, and Rebbetzin Machlis and discusses the middos that each one embodies and the lessons we can learn from each of these giants. Shana loves to challenge each girl in her chabura to take a personal lesson for herself from each woman and hopes that the girls can internalize these lessons for life!

Who is your favorite Disney character and why?

Julia: Mickey Mouse because the way he planned his house so beautifully is just like how HaShem is the architect of our lives and plans it so beautifully.
Shana: Olaf because he loves hugs and we learn from him to have ahavas hoarsely and hug everyone.
Mindy Lowy- Lumiere from beauty and the beast because he is like an eved HaShem and lives to serve his master.
Ariella- rapunzel because boy can she paint and follow her dreams (I’ve got a dream I’ve got a dream ?) and her hair is super spiffy!

Color War 2017 was a huge success! There were two teams- pink which was Avar, past, and orange which was Atid, future. Color War lasted two days. The first was filled with activities and games, and ended with a night activity of Glodeball – glow in the dark dodgeball! Today was extra special, because it was Color War and chessed day. In the morning we left campus and split into three groups: one went to Yad Eliezer, one went to Ohr Meir U’bracha, and one to Hashomer Hachadash. We came back to campus right in time for a silent lunch and the rest of the afternoon was filled with Color War prep and games. It was team vs team and everyone had fun. After dinner were final presentations and scoring. Everyone’s banners and songs were amazing, and we are so impressed with the creativity and dedication shown by each team. In the end, Pink won, and all of Michlelet celebrated with them. It was fun having Color War, but we are ready to get back to being on one team- #Michlelet17!