On Motzei Shabbos Parshas Vo’eira, January 21, 2023, Cheder Menachem & Bais Chaya Mushka Schools of Los Angeles hosted a Staff Appreciation Hakhel Melava Malka for all staff members and their spouses.
In keeping with the Rebbe’s call for Hakhel gatherings to be held during this year of Hakhel, the event was a great opportunity to show appreciation to the dedicated Rebbeim, Moros, Teachers, Support Staff, and administrators of both the Limudei Kodesh and General Studies Departments, uniting all divisions of the Los Angeles community’s unified Mosdos Chinuch- Cheder Menachem, Bais Chaya Mushka and Bais Rebbe Junior High.
Staff members arrived to be greeted by a beautifully decorated auditorium and outdoor rooftop buffet with live music and elegantly decorated tables.
Rabbi Chaim Hanoka, Shliach of Chabad of Pasadena, and proud current parent and grandparent in the schools served as M.C. Rabbi Hanoka shared personal gratitude.
Over the course of the event, he shared many randomly selected notes from amongst close to 1000 appreciation notes written by the Talmidim and Talmidos to their educators and school staff members in general.
After watching a video of the Rebbe focused on the great merit and reward for those involved in Chinuch, Rabbi Mendel Greenbaum, Dean of Cheder Menachem and Bais Chaya Mushka, addressed the participants pointing out the relevance of the next days Hayom Yom – sharing that we are the ultimate “day workers” whose job it is to spread light by establishing firmly grounded students. After sharing a story of the Rebbe as is customary on Motzoei Shabbos, Rabbi Greenbaum thanked the Principals- Rabbi Blasberg, Rabbi Schapiro, Rabbi Wolowik, and Mrs. Blauner at Cheder Menachem and Mrs. Charytan, Mrs. Pinson, Mrs. Zaetz and Mrs. Moorvich in BCMLA, and all staff for their selfless dedication to the Rebbe’s institutions in Los Angeles.
Rabbi Efraim Mintz, the Director of the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute, then took to the stage to give the keynote address to the crowd. In his inimitable style, Rabbi Mintz drew from stories of the Gemara and inspiration from the Rebbe to uplift the crowd and share with them the Brachos and merits received by all present who are involved in the holy work of education.
The joyous atmosphere at the event was further enhanced by surprise gift certificates to many local establishments being randomly found under the seats of 18 lucky attendees.
Rabbi Sholom D. Langsam, Executive Director of Cheder Menachem and Bais Chaya Mushka, concluded the event, sharing a story of Mesirus Nefesh for the Rebbe’s Moisdos and how the success of the Cheder Menachem and Bais Chaya Mushka is a result of the hard work and dedication of every individual faculty member. He thanked them for their commitment to the school and its students.
Overall, the staff appreciation Melava Malka was a truly special and meaningful evening, filled with appreciation and a sense of community. It was a testament to the hard work and dedication of the staff at Cheder Menachem and Bais Chaya Mushka and a reminder of the vital role they play in positively impacting their students’ lives.
A special thank you was conveyed to the Board of Cheder Menachem and BCMLA for their tireless efforts and dedication of energy and resources to the success of the institutions.
As each staff member left the evening, they received an envelope containing all the thank you notes written by their students in honor of this Staff appreciation Hakhel event.
