Women’s Day Out Turns Bright

By Esther Goldberger

What’s your vision of a perfect day?

Let me tell you what happened on our “A Day Away”, organised by the Jewish Women’s Circle of Dollard and the BMC Teachers’ College in S. Agathe, Quebec.

The perfect day for over 20 ladies from Dollard des Ormeaux, a suburb in the Montreal area, started as a rainy, cold and windy day. In the bus, old friends met and new stories were told. Smiles and then someone started to laugh. It was an enjoyable one hour ride.

The beauty of S. Agathe is noticeable even when challenged by Quebec weather. Colorful small shops, cute houses that resemble small castles, friendly people, flowers everywhere… this city seems like it jumped out from a post card to our reality. It was not as cold and gloomy anymore.

Here we are, finally, at the BMC Teachers’ College – a warm place on a cold day. The huge main hall was neat and clean, the high ceiling reminded us to breathe with full freedom, absorbing each breath with serenity and peace of mind. Then we saw them! And they saw us! Smiling eyes and friendly compliments united the BMC students with us.

The BMC students came from various continents. Welcoming compliments were made in English, Hebrew and French. We forgot all our previous concerns and embraced this amazing group. The weather? We totally forgot about it!

After a heartfelt welcoming from Rebbetzin Chana Carlebach, we were led to a scrumptious breakfast and following that, we all sat in comfortable couches and chairs carefully arranged in a semi circle to hear Rebbetzin Carlebach lecture on the importance and connection of women to Jewish Holidays.

How enjoyable it was! Rebbetzin Carlebach is so friendly, so motivated and inspiring. She had the patience to answer all our questions in the friendliest way you can imagine.

All BMC girls were there with us for our next surprise – Learning one on one. Each BMC student was responsible for leading a learning session with two ladies. Leah, an amazing young girl from France was my tutor on how Rachel Imeinu’s presence, safeguarding the way to Ephrat is important for our lives today as modern Jews. Kol Hakavod BMC Students! We all loved to learn from you.

There were fewer clouds in the sky when we left the main building towards an alluring boat ride. Yes! A boat ride in the angelic Lac des Sables. If Hashem is found in nature, He is certainly felt in the Laurentians. The beauty of the calm waters, mixed with the shapes of trees and gorgeous homes among them enticed our imagination… tons of pictures were taken, we were in heaven!

Back to the bus and towards the BMC dorm where all the students live. They had prepared a magnificent lunch for us! How much care, time and dedication did it take to prepare such a wonderful banquet? BMC students physically expressed all what they’ve been learning on the social responsibility of being a Jew.

By now we were all feeling like old friends and the clouds were opening more and more. We could literally see the sunlight touching the trees that surround the whole property and admire the view from the main balcony that faces the peaceful Lac des Sables. Our ladies and the BMC students were having a wonderful time. Smiles, laugher and pleasant conversations in various languages…

This perfect day ended up in a perfect manner. Time came to leave the BMC home and its spectacular students. We took pictures, hugged each other, exchanged phone numbers and e-mails. The bus was prepared to leave and we all boarded.

The trip back home was tranquil and beautiful. Lots of laugher, calmness and a stillness that only those who experienced perfection can talk about. We will cherish the memories of this perfect day forever.

Thank you Jewish Women’s Circle and Rochie Cohen! Thank you BMC College Students and Thank you Rebbetzin Carlebach for providing us such an unforgettable, perfect day.