7 years ago

Whirlwind Weeks at Machon L’Yahadus

Students at Machon L’Yahadus have a lot to learn! And, in keeping with our Sages’ dictum to learn from everyone, the young women who enrolled in the full-time yeshiva program at Machon L’Yahadus use each additional opportunity available to study, be inspired and garner life lessons from young and old alike • Full Story, Photos

Included in special learning opportunities these past weeks was a farbrengen in the dorm with Mrs. Mushky (Rubashkin) Zaltzman about how bitachon and emunah keeps her family going during these trying times that her father is imprisoned.

Rabbi Hillel Zaltzman also farbrenged in the dorm about his formative years in Samarkand and what it was like being a Chasid in those years of self-sacrifice.

In honor of Yud Shvat, in addition to special morning classes and a salad bar lunch, Rebbetzin Chave Hecht shared her personal experiences of the Frierdiker Rebbe and the early years with the Rebbe.

Rabbi Shloma Majeski, principal of Machon L’Yahadus, said, “Students had an opportunity to ask Rebbetzin Hecht questions after her presentation and she assured them that she would return closer to Yud Alef Nissan to share many more personal encounters that she and her illustrious husband, Rabbi JJ Hecht obm had with the Rebbe.”

Mrs. Chani Wolf, assistant principal of Beth Rivkah seminary and a dynamic teacher farbrenged on the night of Yud Shvat in the dorm about the Rebbe-Chassid relationship.

A special Shabbat experience was arranged for the students to spend time with various shluchim in the Tri-State area. The Liebermans, Kushnirskys, Benchimols, Zalmanovs, Steins, and Kogans hosted the students.

Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka’s yartzeit on Chof Beis Shvat was marked by many diverse programs. As early as Thursday students went together to the Ohel, visiting as well the resting places of Rebbetzin Rivkah, Rebbezin Nechama Dina and Rebbetzin Chana as well.

In the evening, Rabbi Yehuda Clapman came to the dorm and shared his family’s unique and personal experiences with Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka.

Machon L’Yahadus proudly welcomed the shluchos with a huge banner hanging proudly from the front porch of the dorm. Mrs. Yehudis Cohen, assistant principal, participated in the Kinus Hashluchos as a representative of Machon L’Yahadus.

On the Shabbos of the Kinus, after candle lighting, Mrs. Luba Kornhauser director of Merkos Women in Australia, spoke. In school on Monday, Mrs. Devorah Alevsky, shlucha in Cleveland, Ohio, spoke to the students about her illustrious ancestors, life as a shlucha, and four generations of shluchim in her family.

A hands-on project in honor of Chof Beis Shvat focused on the role and responsibility of the Jewish woman inside and outside of the home. The students were divided into teams on various topics and presented their research and findings in creative presentations, including a skit that at times had the audience rolling in laughter.

Second year Machon L’Yahadus student, Risa Mond who is the CTeen Leadership Coordinator, brought the excitement of the CTeen Shabbaton to the school. A number of other students chaperoned their local Chabad’s CTeen group. In addition, Machon L’Yahadus teachers Rabbi Yisroel Glick and Mrs. Cohen were workshop presenters at the Shabbaton.

Without a chance to catch their breath, a Family Shabbaton was held the following weekend. Relatives came from Israel, California, Florida, Arizona, Texas, and New York. Student Chana Leah Grabowski of Arizona, welcomed everyone after candle lighting. The Shabbos meal in the dorm was led by Rabbi and Mrs. Majeski and dorm parents Rabbi Mordechai and Chana Nemni. Rabbi Tzvi and Devorah Barnett were the guest couple and shared insights. Students Chava Dunn of Beit Shemesh, Israel and Eliana Amundson of California spoke during the meal. Shabbos morning Adina Adry hosted parents for an informal discussion over coffee and cake. For the Shabbos day meal, students took their family members to host homes that they regularly frequent in the ever hospitable Crown Heights community. Following Havdala there was a Melava Malka. Student Ariella Samimi from Long Island spoke and Dr. Dina Dick from Morristown, New Jersey shared about her life as a mother, wife, and pediatrician – and her journey to get there.

In celebration of Tes Adar, the anniversary of the Previous Rebbe coming to America, Rabbi Leibel Posner spoke for the students in school. The students had an opportunity to pose their questions to this venerable elder Chasid after his presentation.

For many evenings before Purim, students were baking their customary quantity of 770 hamentschen, and then packing them together with other foods to be given out as mishloach manos on Purim day itself. It is a long-standing tradition that students go to nursing homes and other venues on Purim to bring holiday cheer to the elderly and infirm.

The evening and the morning of Purim, the Megillah was expressively read in the dorm by Rabbi Nemni are dorm parents at Machon L’Yahadus. Motzei Shabbos a Purim party was held in the dorm. The dorm was decorated to perfection by the incredibly devoted and talented madrichos – Chana Friedman, Miriam Goldberg, Mushki Cohen and Frayde Trachtman. The students used their creativity for their own costumes and everyone had a blast!

There was also a special Megillah reading Purim day at the Machon L’Yahadus school building – 825 Eastern Parkway – for Machon L’Yahadus alumni and friends.

The dorm and classrooms are filled to overflowing with this year’s student body. This year’s students hail from Florida, California, Arizona, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Long Island, Texas, Missouri, Illinois, Montreal, Israel, Venezuela, Ukraine, Russia, and Australia.

Registration for the upcoming 2017-2018 school year is open. Prospective students can find out more about the school and its programs at womensyeshiva.com or by emailing [email protected].