by LechuVnelcha | Jan 27, 2016 | Baltimore, LVN Events, North America
On Motzoei Shabbos, January 9, Maalot Elite hosted their annual winter melaveh malkah, with the theme of “Remaining Sound: In Body, Mind and Soul.”
Maalot Elite, which is now known as “ELITE” (Elevating Life in a Torah Environment), is Baltimore’s branch of Lechu V’Nelcha, for post-seminary girls. Established in 2014, its mission is to provide shiurim, events, classes, Shabbatons, melaveh malkahs and an outlet for camaraderie, growth and enjoyment for young women in Baltimore.
The melaveh malkah featured an interactive panel with speakers representing the three aspects of body, mind, and soul. Mrs. Esther Tendler, RN, represented body, and spoke about the importance of taking care of oneself, looking good and feeling good. She stressed the fact that every person is beloved by Hashem and is therefore an important person worthy of being treated well.
Mrs. Gitti Horowitz spoke about soul. She regaled the audience with stories about Mrs. Henni Machlis, a”h, who went to great lengths to do chessed, even going so far as to be awakened in the middle of the night to teach an unbalanced man how to make whole-wheat pizza. She also emphasized the importance of having mentors, making goals, setting aside time to learn and grow, and making a daily small cheshbon hanefesh.
Mrs. Horowitz also described how one small move in the right direction can have great impact for years and years to come.
Dr. Hinda Dubin spoke about mind. She discussed the importance of making realistic goals and giving ourselves “down time,” reframing occurrences, and seeing things through realistic lenses. She stressed the need for proper focus time and relaxation.
Dr. Dubin ended by leading the audience in a relaxation exercise. Following the panel, five post-seminary girls performed in a lovely Capella choir.
The evening also featured a milchig soup-and-salad buffet with a hot drink and dessert table, beautiful airy décor, and wholesome fruit centerpieces. A Chinese Auction included prizes to benefit body, mind and soul. All in all, the approximately 70 participants had a wonderful, invigorating, and inspiring evening, and lingered long after the end of the official program.
They are now eagerly looking forward to the annual “Elite Retreat,” Shabbos of chizuk, which will be held on Shabbos Parashas Pekudei, March 11-12, at the beautiful Capital Retreat Center in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania. For more information, please call 443-895-1585 or look out for upcoming advertisements.
Information taken from article by Devorah Klein, Hamodia
by LechuVnelcha | Jan 15, 2016 | Eretz Yisrael, LVN Shabbaton
A LVN Shabbaton in Eretz Yisrael! What could be more exhilarating, more uplifting, for LVN post-seminary girls than joining together to spend Shabbos in the Palace of the King? Mrs. Marks, the exceptional director of the LVN Yerushalayim branch, decided it was the perfect way to strengthen the ties of the weekly shiur-goers, and she found the ideal location for it too. Last Shabbos 20 girls came from all over Yerushalayim to Moshav Matisyahu, an idyllic setting for what proved to be an extraordinary experience. Graced with the presence of Rebbetzin Fink, who had flown in from the U.S. to participate, the group took part in a Shabbaton that they will reminisce about long after the winter has drawn to a close.
The theme for the weekend was “Shivti B’vais Hashem,” a concept that tied in beautifully to the Shabbaton, with the shoresh of the word Shivti being Shabbos. Along with cooking all the food for the Shabbos meals, the girls were divided into groups, with each group responsible for designing table settings and centerpieces correlating to the chosen theme for one of the four seudos that they would be sharing together. The girls proved that they were certainly up to the task, outdoing themselves to create an atmosphere for each meal that was both pleasing to the eye and intriguing to the mind.
The Shabbaton began with Mrs. Marks speaking to the girls, introducing the theme and elaborating on the concept of bayis. She explained that the purpose of a bayis is that it should be an edifice of protection, enabling those within to stay safe from the negative influences outside that threaten to penetrate. After kabbalas Shabbos the girls headed to the table for the seudah, where they were greeted by centerpieces made of purple shoes! The Hebrew word for purple is segol, which tied into Shabbos being a symbol for our special status as the am segulah. The shoes represent the transformation we make as we trade in weekday garb for special attire to prepare for Shabbos. Rebbetzin Fink welcomed everyone, drawing in one and all to create a feeling of connection and warmth. After the seudah they all had the privilege to pay a visit to one of the chashuve senior residents of the community, a woman named Esther Alsten, who charmed the audience with her wit and wisdom while imparting lessons in anava gleaned from her life experiences.
After davening the following morning, Rebbetzin Fink spoke to the girls before the second seudah. She discussed how Paroh in Mitzrayim was the epitome of the yetzer horah, representing chitzoniyus on the most superficial level. She elaborated on how our role in life is to break the idols of Mitzrayim, to destroy the barriers that prevent us from refining our midos, so that we can reach the ideal of perfecting the pnimiyus.
For this second seudah the girls focused on the second half of the theme passuk, “kal yemei chayai,” and each table was designed to represent a different milestone in one’s life. There was a bris table, a bar mitzvah table and a chasunah table, to remind us that whichever stage you are at, your life must always be connected to the derech hatorah. Once again the seudah was replete with divrei torah and zemiros, with Rebbetzin Fink giving the girls a taste of the depth of meaning hidden in the zemiros that we regularly sing every Shabbos.
The table settings for shalosh seudos once again connected to the words “kal yemei chayai,” but in an entirely different way. Each plate was designed to look like a clock with the fork and the spoon serving as the hands of the clock, a clever way to impart the message that our every minute must be dedicated to avodas Hashem. To drive the point home further, the girls were given magnets that listed the shesh mitzvos t’midios, principles that must always be a focus in our minds and hearts. During shalosh seudos everyone participated in a game. Cards with one of three pictures were handed to each girl. If the card depicted lips that meant you were a panelist, a picture of a key meant “remain silent,” and a picture of an arrow told the card-holder that it was optional to speak. Questions relating to the theme were discussed, with the card-holders responding or listening depending on the instructions represented by the pictures on their card. With each new question, the cards changed hands so that everyone had a chance to participate and enjoy the interaction.
There was one last seudah to enjoy, that of melaveh malkah. Everyone was given a flowerpot to decorate, with the instructions that their design incorporate a lesson learned over Shabbos. One flowerpot had a sky painted on the bottom and the ground painted on top to symbolize the olam hafuch in which we live. Another pot depicted computers and other devices on its surface, to represent the external superficial world that those things create. The girls then danced together, giving special attention to the three kallahs in their midst, and trying to grab hold of the special camaraderie that the Shabbos together had created.
The Shabbaton drew to a close with a perfect crescendo as they all piled into a van and headed to the Kosel for maariv and nishmas at midnight. What an ideal way to end a Shabbos that was me’ein olam habba in every possible aspect. May we all be zoche to join together in the very near future to experience another such Shabbos of ruchniyus, b’vias goel tzedek, b’vias hamashiach!
Tzippy Zager
by LechuVnelcha | Jan 14, 2016 | LVN Events, LVN shiur, New LVN Branch, North America, Williamsburg
The pictures depicting the way the room was set up for Williamsburg’s inaugural event told me a story of careful planning and excited anticipation by the evening’s coordinators, Zissy Perl, Chavie Follman and Reizy Hechel. So much thought and effort went into every detail to enhance the experience for each and every girl that braved the bitingly cold evening to attend the shiur. Sixty chairs lined up in rows, each chair holding a LVN labeled water bottle and two-tone cookie in LVN’s signature colors, both with the personal message – “Welcome – Glad you joined.” Included as well was the LVN pen, the ideal memento for the evening’s attendees.
The sweet table was a sight to behold – so much thought and time had obviously been invested in creating such an inviting spread. Beautiful professional cookies bearing the LVN logo, mouthwatering peanut chews, sweets, homemade cookies and confections in LVN labeled glass jars and a very tempting trifle. Everything artfully arranged to add to the ambience and make the girls feel welcome.
As the room filled with an overflowing crowd and all the 60 seats were taken, their faces told a story as well – one of eidelkeit, sincerity and a desire for inspiration and truth. The audience was made up of post-high school and post-seminary girls from every chassidus in the community, all melding together to satisfy their thirst to hear and learn and grow.
Rebbetzin Fink opened the evening by discussing the value of growing in ruchniyus. She explained that when you make an effort to climb in ruchniyus every achievement multiplies its effect a thousand-fold in terms of how it affects you as eved Hashem, which contrasts sharply to gashmiyus where anything you acquire just adds to what you have but does not change who you really are.
Rebbetzin Fink then showed the girls a slideshow which gave the viewer a glimpse of the over 25 other LVN branches world-wide. For the Williamsburg girls, some of whom hadn’t even heard of LVN before joining their own new branch, it was an eye-opener to the magnitude of this global movement.
After the shiur, the girls had the chance to meet and greet each other, and partake of the many delicious treats just begging to be tasted. As the crowd thinned a bit, the remaining girls began to dance, moved by the excitement of having been a part of something so huge and elevating.
The feedback reflected the impact that had been felt by all those who had come. “I’ve been waiting for a group shiur to start and it was definitely worth the wait!” “It was such a zechus to get so many girls under one roof to listen to a shiur.” “I had a wedding but choose to attend anyway and I’m so glad I did!” “I was so blown away…. I’m committed!” “Williamsburg really needed this!”
We wish the Williamsburg LVN branch much hatzlachah as they embark on this path of combined friendship and growth, joining thousands of others who are doing the very same thing all over the world.
Tzippy Zager
by LechuVnelcha | Feb 26, 2015 | General branch info, New LVN Branch, South Africa
It is not only the enchanting South African accent that immediately catches your attention. It’s the indomitable spirit and overwhelming enthusiasm of Mrs. Rivka Kolko and Mrs. Yocheved Boyer that is electrifying. South Africa is an unusual place in that spiritually the people there are incredibly thirsty for inspiration. World-wide Jewry saw this recently first-hand with the Shabbos Project and I saw it now for myself when talking to Mrs. Kolko about the LVN Johannesburg branch, appropriately named Kesher. Kesher, because that is what her program is trying to do – create a kesher for the minds and hearts of the girls in Johannesburg.
Besides for the universal challenges facing all the seminary girls returning from an oasis of spirituality to the jungles of galus, South African girls have an additional dilemma due to their geographical location. Their school year ends during the balmy month of December, which is when the 12th grade graduates. The problem is that seminary in Eretz Yisrael does not begin until the following September! So how are these girls going to nourish their neshamos in the interim period? Johannesburg saw a dire need and was determined to fill it.
Mechanchim contacted educational professionals world-wide, special people involved in the field of chinuch habanos, to glean a solution. And they were especially inspired by Mrs. Hoffman, the energetic director of our LVN Baltimore branch, who advised them to create a program that would be “by the girls, for the girls.” And so LVN Johannesburg set out to do just that.
The Kesher team pondered how to create solutions to issues that were uniquely South African. Of primary concern, of course, was that nine-month gap while the girls waited for seminary to start, when their neshamos were desperate for nurturing and chizuk. But there were other issues. There was the fact that the Hebrew skills for the girls heading to seminary in Eretz Yisrael desperately needed strengthening. And then there was the issue that the girls, during the nine-month waiting period and after they returned from seminary too, wanted to begin accumulating credits for their secular degrees. The problem there was that there was no appropriate venue for them to do that without risking everything in their ruchniyus.
Mrs. Kolko and Mrs. Boyer launched Kesher with a Shabbaton, replete with both aesthetics and spirituality, designed to attract the girls to hear what she had to offer. The girls were asked to complete questionnaires, regarding what topics they were curious about and which speakers captured their attention. And a program was formulated that would answer the call for action. Each week for two hours the girl would gather in the central shul. The first hour would be dedicated to an inspirational and timely shiur on Tehillim. The second hour of the program would focus on a social activity such as fruit sculpting, mosaic art and the like. The Kesher staff discovered quickly that, though the girls enjoyed the social interaction, what really drew them in at the core was the shiurim– and they were not surprised at all!
To deal with insulating the girls from negative influence pervasive in the secular colleges, Kesher arranged for the girls to earn credits through courses led by frum teachers. The course topics vary, but the goal for all of them is the same. To educate the girls in all areas while ensuring that their purity would not be tarnished in the process. Kesher also arranges for the girls to have the opportunity to meet one on one with mentors who can guide them with their own personal concerns and life situations.
Thus, although South Africa may have a different climate calendar and somewhat different educational needs than some of our other LVN branches, at the heart the goal is the same. To help our girls to flourish in their own settings, to help them develop into future mothers of Klal Yisrael that Hashem can be proud of. Which is why Kesher, our South African Lechu V’Nelcha branch, is another gem in the Lechu V’Nelcha chain that we are very proud of too!
Tzippy Zager
by LechuVnelcha | Feb 5, 2015 | Eretz Yisrael, General branch info, LVN shiur, New LVN Branch
Yerushalayim! Just saying the name evokes the image of blinding white stone and soul-inspiring vistas. What better place to launch another Lechu V’Nelcha branch, than the center of our universe, where the Shechinah forever resides? LVN aims to enhance each and every girl’s relationship with their Father in Heaven and Yerushalayim is certainly a most fitting place to do just that. Directed by Mrs. Miriam Mark, and coordinated by Chasya Miriam Weil, LVN Yerushalayim drew an English-speaking crowd of girls to the Ulamei Penina Hall on Rechov Penina. They came to be inspired and they were not disappointed.
Rebbetzin Fink had flown to Yerushalayim herself for the inaugural event and, of course, she galvanized the girls with her thought-provoking words. Rebbetzin Fink spoke about an age-old dilemma, the question regarding the environment that is most conducive for growth. On the one hand, we know that a place of insulated kedushah gives our neshamos the protection from outside influences that may pull us away from reaching new heights. And yet, we also know that situations that present spiritual struggles can force us to discover new potential within ourselves to achieve more in our ruchniyus. Rebbetzin Fink clarified for the audience that while living in galus they are constantly being put into situations that test their resolve and obligate them to battle with their yetzer hara. But they always need to be mindful about not making the CHOICE to PUT themselves into a place of temptation. And the ideal way to ensure that they are making the right choices about where they go, who they associate with, and the activities in which they are involved, is to keep reinvigorating themselves with inspiration, kedushah and chizuk from sources like Lech V’Nelcha. The audio-visual presentation featuring the Mashgiach of Lakewood, Harav Mattisyahu Salomon, shlita, reinforced this message by encouraging the girls to participate in weekly shiurim and reminding them of how vital it is to be a part of LVN as they prepare themselves for the role of future wives and mothers of Klal Yisrael.
We wish LVN Yerushalayim much hatzlachah as they endeavor to offer to their girls what all LVN branches are already providing across the globe. The opportunity to continue to grow ever closer to the Ribbono shel Olam no matter where they live or the circumstances in which they find themselves.
Tzippy Zager
