Students at Chabad Girls Academy were treated to a special gathering in honor of Yud Tes Kislev. Their morning began with learning the day’s chitas and about how Tanya follows a regular year and leap year schedule, which we are beginning this year. Chassidus was followed by davening in 770 along with the minyan. The girls were dressed beautifully in shabbos clothes and davened with kavanah.
Seated around a beautifully set farbrengen table, the students enjoyed a special breakfast. A lesson was given over to the girls about the history of Yud Tes Kislev, learning the story in detail about the Alter Rebbe’s arrest and liberation. High school girls from Bnos Chomesh came to our school and learned in chavrusa sessions together. The atmosphere was really uplifting and it felt like a real Rosh Hashana with the girls connecting to chassidus in a personal way. Each chavrusa studied and learned more about Yud Tes Kislev completing a fun acrostic together.
Another highlight of the program was studying varied foundational concepts of Tanya. Groups of girls were given topics from Tanya which they learned well and developed into beautiful canvases to visually display their concept and bring it to life. The girls spent time creatively designing their canvases and writing their chassidic concept on the canvas. Their finished products were beautiful and uniquely crafted.
Mrs. Devorah Leah Rosenfeld, Editor in Chief of Hachai Publishing, graciously spoke with the girls about incorporating chassidus into story book writing. She shared a number of her books with the girls and showed them how she weaves the message of chassidus into the stories, following specific guidelines of the Rebbe in the writing and illustrating of the children’s books. The girls were fascinated by her talk and were introduced to the process of writing and illustrating children’s books. Mrs. Rosenfeld’s mission to bring chassidus to kindergarten classrooms inspired the students as they saw books that were translated into several languages and spread worldwide.
This goal of Hafatzas Hamaayanos Chutzah, spreading the wellsprings of chassidus to the entire world, was the theme of the day and the students connected with it and were able to express it in their artwork. Student Chaviva Z. shared, “the program was very inspiring! It was very special to daven in 770, and the speaker and canvas painting were amazing!”. Sara S. shared that it was really fun and enjoyable. Student Vivi C. shared that it was a great experience and she would like to do it again.
To end off the holy days of Yud Tes and Chof Kislev, our girls were invited to do Chanukah packing for Friendship Circle of Brooklyn. We are so proud of the contribution our students make towards our community.
