Girls Bond, Grow Over Weekend

Over the weekend of Shabbat Parshat Vayishlach a group of young Crown Heights residents gathered for several days of introspection and growth.

The three day event was facilitated by Aliyah Girls, a grassroots effort to reach out to and motivate young women and students of our community.

The Shabbaton featured instructors from Heart Mind and Soul (HMS) an organization based in West Hartford, Connecticut designed to help young adults reveal their inner leader, which in turn can help people stay focused on capabilities goals, while overcoming challenges and inspiring others. Additionally, graduates of HMS joined the program as assistants to aid in conversation flow and support for the people experiencing this life changing event for the first time.

Friday night through Sunday night, the girls spent all their waking hours together, bonding, growing, and discovering blockages in their respective paths in life that may have been preventing them from sharing their full potential with the world. Through a series of intense workshops, exercises and moments to share the girls took bold steps towards facing their true selves and innate power within. The program provided a space for individuals to be extremely open and honest with each other, as well as feel loved.

Each person’s experience was unique, empowering, and inspiring.

“I feel so much happier now,” said one participant. “I grew from every girl that stood up here,” said another attendee, “and I feel so connected to everyone now.”

The participants were able to learn from one another’s struggles and apply the same lessons to her life. At graduation, the weekend’s closing ceremony, every face was glowing; clarity and love was pulsating through the air. Each person exited charged with a mission to better her life and ultimately the world around us.

The goal of Aliya Girls for this Shabbat was to give the girls a chance to heal, and provide guidance. Everyone has obstacles to overcome and everyone deserves an opportunity to work through their challenges and become stronger, healthier, better people as a result.

The girls went in to the program knowing only a few others, or no one at all and emerged with a group of friends for life. The event was a huge success and plans are already in the works for Heart Mind and Souls’ next visit to Crown Heights.