“It felt like a fulfillment of the Mitteler Rebbe’s [dream]… even casual conversations were about Chassidus.”
That’s how one participant described her experience at the High School Chidon Shabbaton.
92 teenagers, ranging from 10th to 12th graders, joined the Batsheva Learning Center’s high school Chidon shabbaton last week in upstate New York.
All of the participants spent 5+ months learning the entire sefer Kuntres Umaayan, and passed 5 tests on the material. Throughout the Shabbaton weekend, the girls participated in classes, workshops and farbrengens that explored the ideas from the sefer more deeply and gave them a chance to discuss and reflect on what they learned. Most powerful of all, they had the chance to meet other high school girls from across the globe who shared their passion and interest in learning.
“I especially appreciated… an atmosphere where learning was the focus and [being] with a group of girls who value independent learning.”
“It was so encouraging to be in an inspired environment with like-minded girls.”
The Shabbaton weekend ended off with a gameshow held at the JCM, where the top ten finalists competed and demonstrated their mastery of the sefer. Sets of Likkutei Sichos, Sefer Maamarim Melukat, and Chassidus Mevueres were awarded to the first, second, and third place winners, respectively. First place went to Liba Posner from Chicago, IL; second place went to Batsheva Dubov from London, England; and third place went to Rivkah Zavdi from London, England. All Chidon participants received a personalized plaque at the ceremony, as well.
The shabbaton, as well as the personalized plaques, were there to award each student for her efforts. But, as many parent’s shared, the learning itself was the greatest prize:
“She gained more than just knowledge of these maamarim…a deep joy in learning in general,” one parent said.
“Being that we are on Shlichus, we spend about 90 minutes on the road every morning, which has always felt like a waste of time until my daughter signed up for this program…Sitting in traffic for a minimum of 45 minutes has changed from frustration to thrill as we both looked forward to studying in depth Chassidus. She read and I would explain…The ride became so meaningful. At one point she told me she’s not doing it for the prize but just to know more Chassidus.”
“In the times that we live in, one can only imagine the powerful impact learning Chassidus can have on a high school girl. Not to mention, the great nachas a parent can get, when after all the tests a teenage daughter can say ‘I would love to learn it again, to know it better.’”
to all of you