This year, Yud Tes Kislev was celebrated at Bais Chana High School, in Orange, Connecticut, with great excitement and fanfare. Under the direction of Bnos Advisor, Mrs. Rashi Greenfeield, the students (led by program heads Lieba Kaplan, Chaya Drizin, and Sheina Weiss) created an unforgettable day, filled with meaning and inspiration.
The day centered around the theme “Live with the Present”–appreciating and internalizing the gift of Chassidus and its impact.
The evening of Yud Tes Kislev was kicked off with a delectable seuda, cooked and arranged by the girls. Rabbi and Mrs. Cadaner farbrenged with the students and shared powerful, practical messages for the special day. The girls were then presented with special gifts for their focused hachana leading up to the Rosh Hashana of Chassidus. Seder niggunim followed, with beautiful piano accompaniment by the students.
The next day, the school was abuzz with farbrengens, led by BCA staff members, Mrs. Malka Schmukler and Rabbi Levi Schectman, with stimulating discussions about celebrating the gift of Chassidus. The students then drove to the new Chabad of Orange Jewish Center, where they enjoyed a delicious lunch and wonderful program.
In connection with the school’s Yud Tes Kislev theme of “Live with the Present,” the girls participated in a grand pass-the-parcel game, where each student took on hachlatos in honor of the day. Mrs. Greenfeld gave a workshop on writing to the Rebbe, and the girls then had the opportunity to write panim and share their hachlatos with the Rebbe. The messages of the day were further emphasized with a creative activity where students designed personalized tote bags with the theme and inspirational quotes reflecting the day.
The next day on Chof Kislev, the inspiration continued with a school-wide trip to the Ohel, where Shlucha, Mrs. Chaya Teldon, addressed the students. As BCA students, Lieba Schreiber, said, “I took a lot out of the program, especially the speaker who spoke about the importance of going to the Ohel. When people would have a yechidus with the Rebbe it was open, raw and real, and you couldn’t hide anything…your true self is what he saw. I really loved how inspiring and eye opening it was.”
A special thank you to BCA’s madrichos, Mushky Strassberg and Mushka Cohen, for their creativity and making it all happen!
Bais Chana Academy High School for Girls is committed to excellence in education and the development of self-assured young women who exemplify middos tovos and strength of character. BCA instills yiras shamayim, a love of Torah and Mitzvos and a practical understanding and appreciation for what limud hachasidus and darchei hachasidus add to everyday life.
Through a rigorous academic program of both Limmudei Kodesh and Limmudei Chol, as well as goal-oriented extra-curricular programs, BCA inspires within its students the confidence to discover and cultivate their own unique talents and to note their accomplishments with pride. The school’s focus is to foster dignified young women who will be able to assess their actions, and who will develop the sensitivity to make decisions which positively impact their growth and development in school and beyond.
For more information about the school, please call principal, Mrs. Bluma Hecht at 203-795-5261.
Go Lieba Kaplan!