Rohr Bais Chaya Ends Year With Grand Shabbaton

High school is a crucial time for a girl to establish the values for the rest of her life. Just like a businessman invests in the future of his brand, so every high school girl must identify the person they aspire to be. In order to be a proper yid and chossid, a strong and true foundation is key. Through the theme of “OWN IT”, Rohr Bais Chaya Academy in Florida strives to infuse the girls with an appreciation for the beauty of our lifestyle, our mitzvos, and the torah (chassidus in particular).

Each month, the school used various brands to focus on an area of Yiddishkeit to bring out the significance of that topic and challenge the girls to grow in that specific area.

Tishrei: Own your connection with Hashem

Verizon – Can you hear me now?

Cheshvan: Own your Ahavas Yisroel

NASA – For the benefit of all

Kislev: Own your Moshiach Reality

Re-UNITED

Teves: Own your Tznius

Loreal – Because you’re worth it

Shvat: Own your Media Choices

Bing – Mute the bing

Adar: Own your simcha

Coca Cola – Open Happiness

Nissan: Own your Geula

Apple – Think Different

Iyar: Own your Time

Swatch – It’s about time

The culmination of the Bnos Chabad program was a Grand Shabbaton with the theme of “Take The Stage!”

One of the students recorded her recollections of the beautiful weekend:  

By Yocheved Brook, 11th Grade

The Rohr Bais Chaya Academy Bnos Chabad Shabbaton 5781 was absolutely incredible! It started even before the actual Shabbaton began. During the days leading up to Shabbaton the atmosphere was hyped with stickers, a catchy theme song, posters, announcements, meetings, treats, and so much more. You could really feel the excitement in the air as everyone invested their all to make this Shabbaton memorable and exciting. Everyone was really working together and it was such a cool feeling of unity and togetherness.

The drum circle on Friday got us off to a great start. It brought everyone together with something so fun that everyone couldn’t help but loosen up a little while banging away on those drums.

Right after the drum circle we headed to a water obstacle course. It had something for everyone to enjoy! We had music blasting and just enjoyed the refreshing time in the water with our schoolmates.

Lighting Shabbos candles was really one of my highlights. I love that special feeling of bringing in shabbos surrounded by eighty other girls all dressed in their shabbos finery, each lighting a candle to form the letters RBCA. This was followed by a beautiful kabbalas shabbos with everyone singing together. The peace of Shabbos descending on the grounds was tangible. Everyone spent quality time with one another with nothing to distract them.

Every meal was set with a unique and stunning tablescape, matching paper goods and beautiful theme related centerpieces which really brought the meals to the next level. I loved just spending time with the whole school together, singing and talking. Each meal was also accompanied by a theme related dvar torah and story, and of course more singing.

The farbrengen on Friday night with Mrs. Gitty Rapoport went on to the early hours of the morning and was extremely interesting and uplifting. She kept it light and funny while also sharing deep chassidic ideas and inspiring us with thought provoking messages. The farbrengen gave me a deeper appreciation for growing up as a Chabad girl and not having to fight for it like she did.

We spent Shabbos afternoon in amazing workshops by Rabbi Janowski, Mrs. Rappaport, and Mrs. Janowski which covered a broad range of topics. I will say Rabbi Janowski’s workshop was really entertaining and at the same time also taught us things we would never learn in school and will definitely be remembered for many years. In fact, many of us stayed for both workshop shifts!

The seder niggunim as shabbos came to a close was indescribable. The sound of eighty girls singing together is so powerful and actually gave me chills. There is just something about the sun setting, shabbos coming to a close and everyone sitting in a circle, with their unique voices blending into a perfect harmony. It was a really good time to internalize and contemplate all the things we had discussed over Shabbos.

Shabbos ended on this high note and we went straight into a fantastic Motzei Shabbos program. Words can not do justice to the sound of 80 students singing and cheering while playing a childhood video game show, class karaoke, and an intense six team competition. Anyone who walked into the room at any point would involuntarily smile because you could just see how much fun everyone was having. The boundaries of grades were forgotten and we were just one united school.

Shabbaton really brought everyone together in a way nothing else could and I am so thankful to the Bnos Chabad heads, Mrs. Denburg and of course the administration at RBCA for spending insane amounts of time, money, and energy into this Shabbaton and making sure it would be the best possible for every single girl. The amount of thanks they deserve does not fit on this paper so I’ll just say one big THANK YOU FOR THE GREATEST SHABBATON OF ALL TIME!

Due to overwhelming demand, Rohr Bais Chaya has opened a second 9th grade class and still has a few spots available in the dormitory.  For further information, please call 954-788-8781 or visit www.baischaya.com.