by LechuVnelcha | Jul 8, 2017 | Australia, LVN Shabbaton
As Lechu V’Nelcha branches continue to dot the map, we have become acquainted with different states, new countries and languages, and foreign continents. The latest Shabbaton was held in a location halfway around the globe and generated great excitement for a relatively new LVN group. It was a heart-warming reminder that regardless of where in the world we may find ourselves, a Bais Yaakov graduate is just that: someone who wants to remain true to all that she has learned in high school and seminary, and who desires to continue to grow and expand in her avodas Hashem.
The place: Emerald, Melbourne, Australia. The season: Winter!
LVN Australia is coordinated tirelessly by Hindy Present, with the constant encouragement of Rebbetzin Wurzberger. And this Shabbaton was her brainchild. She turned to Mrs. Dassi Ernst, who gladly did whatever she could in order to make this dream a reality, and baruch Hashem all their efforts and hard work bore fruit.
Twenty-six Australian Bais Yaakov girls participated in the first LVN Shabbaton on their continent. And an hour and a half before Shabbos two more girls made last-minute arrangements to join them. It was an opportunity that they had determined could not be missed. And they were right.
With Rebbetzin Fink having flown in all the way from New York to lend her trademark warmth and words of stimulating inspiration, every girl who had made the effort to participate was guaranteed a LVN Shabbos filled with uplifting inspiration and stirring memories. Every girl experienced LVN Shabbos far beyond her expectations.
Shabbos brought in a feeling of unity and serenity with a shiur on Bein Adam L’atzmo to set the tone. The seudah, replete with zemiros and divrei Torah, only amplified the feeling of achdus and ruchniyus, a combination that gave the kumzitz at the end a special ruach all its own.
Shabbos morning began with Shacharis and Kiddush, followed by another thought-provoking shiur, this one focusing on Bein Adam L’makom. After the seudah, the girls participated in shiurim and nature walks, culminating in Mincha and shalosh seudos, with a special panel offering words of wisdom for all the participants.
Before the Shabbaton drew to a close, the girls had one last crescendo moment to enjoy. Melaveh Malka, with delicious food and an edible LVN memento at each place setting to mark the occasion, was a lovely affair. The girls heard the LVN theme song, were taught the lyrics, and then watched footage of another recent LVN Shabbaton held on the East Coast in the U.S. The charged atmosphere was felt by all who were there. In the words of one attendee, “It was decided then, that come what may, we must do this every year.” The girls danced and sang together, trying to draw out the moment as long as they could, until they were forced to board the buses to head home.
Like that which is experienced by participants of LVN Shabbatonim worldwide, the combination of the dynamic program and the camaraderie of like-minded peers gave the Australian girls a weekend they are sure to remember for a long time to come. A bonus for the entire Australian community was their opportunity to benefit from Rebbetzin Fink’s words of wisdom on important topics such as shalom bayis and chinuch habanim. Which goes to show that when LVN ignites the spark, the fire burns strongly far beyond what we can imagine!
Tzippy Zager
by LechuVnelcha | Jul 8, 2017 | Eretz Yisrael, LVN Shabbaton
As Lechu V’Nelcha branches continue to dot the map, we have become acquainted with different states, new countries and languages, and foreign continents.
The latest LVN Shabbaton was held in the heat of the summer in Ohr Haganuz, just 5 min away from Meiron. Rebbetzin Dinah Fink, from New York, joined them, to lead their Shabbaton in trademark Lechu V’Nelcha style, with inspiring lectures and warm zemiros. The Shabbaton, under the devoted tutelage of Mrs. Mark, was catered and organized by the girls themselves and they planned a Shabbos that was incredible in its every detail and design. Like the experience of participants of LVN Shabbatonim worldwide, the combination of the dynamic program and the camaraderie of like-minded peers gave the participants a weekend they are sure to remember for a long time to come, and a motivational charge to stick to the core of LVN, the weekly shiur. “Bais Yaakov lechu v’nelcha b’ohr Hashem.”
As one mother of a Yerushalayim LVN participant put it, “My daughter lives for her Lechu V’Nelcha, it gives her so much! It’s something that really enriches her whole life. Between the speakers, the activities, and the Shabbatons, she feels like she’s found a new family! Friends that are so Torah-oriented and so positive. She comes back from the shiurim and especially the Shabbatons really inspired. She wants everyone to go there and she tries to spread the word.”
+ Read About the 1st LVN Shabbaton in Eretz Yisrael!
+ Read About the 2nd LVN Shabbaton in Eretz Yisrael!
by LechuVnelcha | Jun 21, 2017 | Branch Re-opening, LVN Events, LVN shiur, Monsey, North America
The Lechu V’Nelcha branch in Monsey had a beautiful and successful start to a new year! Our wonderfully dedicated and hardworking coordinators, Livshy Bick and Toby Matlin, directed a ‘Welcome Home’ event for new seminary graduates, to invite them to join the already flourishing Lechu V’Nelcha branch.
The attendees heard the strong message emphasized by Harav Mattisyahu Salomon, shlita, Mashgiach of Bais Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, who described the vital necessity of the organization. “Lechu V’Nelcha is a wonderful project…upon which the future success of every Bais Yaakov depends…. It’s important. It’s vital. Without which I don’t think any girl can survive. And without which a family of bnei Torah will not be able to develop the way that the Bais Yaakov really wants them to develop.”
Rebbetzin Dinah Fink, founder and director of LVN, led the event, welcoming the new participants with her warm words of inspiration and chizuk. It is heartwarming to see the excitement and camaraderie that is generated as more and more girls get involved in the special electricity that is a signature of the LVN program.
by LechuVnelcha | Jun 11, 2017 | Europe, Gateshead, LVN Events, LVN shiur
The Changing of the Guard is a sight unique to London’s Buckingham Palace, but there was a changing of guards in Gateshead too — though there it was on a more spiritual plane. On June 11, as the Gateshead Lechu V’Nelcha branch handed the reins over to new coordinator leadership, they held a special event, geared specifically toward current Gateshead Sem students. And what a night it was!
The regular attendees of the shiur noted how much being part of LVN had done for them this year. Having a weekly dose of inspiration while working in the challenging outside world, helped them to not feel alone in their pursuit to “get it right.” The three coordinators — Batya Prijs, Bayle Grunfeld and Chani Rosenberg — invested an incredible amount of time and effort to ensure a dynamic program that would be ideal for the post-sem girls. The success of last year’s LVN Gateshead branch was due in large part to their devotion and dedication. Now, as last year’s LVN Gateshead coordinators are planning their weddings, it was time for new girls to take on the role. Brocha Abenson, Rifki Salomon, Rifka Miller and Dassy Posen eagerly stepped up to the plate.
The new coordinators decided it would be an ideal time to introduce the concept of Lechu V’Nelcha to girls who hail from Gateshead and are currently graduating from both the old and the new Gateshead sems. A special evening with Rebbetzin Dinah Fink was arranged for their benefit. The coordinators prepared a beautiful buffet and a stunning centerpiece tree, featuring LVN logo cookies dangling from its branches. Accenting the display were orange fans, emphasizing the goal of LVN, to “fan the flames” of ruchniyus within every single LVN participant.
The attendees heard the strong message emphasized by Harav Mattisyahu Salomon, shlita, Mashgiach of Bais Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, who described the vital necessity of the organization. “Lechu V’Nelcha is a wonderful project…upon which the future success of every Bais Yaakov depends…. It’s important. It’s vital. Without which I don’t think any girl can survive. And without which a family of bnei Torah will not be able to develop the way that the Bais Yaakov really wants them to develop.”
Rebbetzin Dinah Fink, founder and director of LVN, addressed the crowd, highlighting the value of committing to the weekly shiur on a consistent basis, and describing it as the best step to take in ensuring a solid hashkafic foundation. She emphasized the point that until now, being involved in their ruchniyus education didn’t require them to make a personal choice. Now, upon graduating seminary, it was up to them to make the decision to dedicate time each week to their spiritual growth, at a venue where other like-minded girls were making that same choice. For the graduating Gateshead girls who had seen ads for LVN shiurim all year, it was an opportunity to see what LVN was all about and to be acquainted with the value of making a consistent effort to join the shiur each week. And convinced they were! Feeling the strong desire to maintain what they had learned and absorbed all year in seminary, they understood that that, in a nutshell, is what LVN is all about!
Tzippy Zager
by LechuVnelcha | May 12, 2017 | LVN Shabbaton, North America
Post-seminary girls from across North America and Canada had the unique opportunity to refresh, relax and reconnect with others at the 21st Lechu V’Nelcha Shabbos of Inspiration, May 12-14, at the Raeligh Hotel.
+ Click here to read more details of what a LVN Shabbaton is all about
