More Than Just a Biking Trip

By High School Student Chani Smoller

This past week the Hebrew Academy High School traveled to sunny Los Angeles for their first shabbaton of the year. The first stop on their adventure was to the Simcha Monica Pier. The girls handed out Neshek while biking along the beach, enjoying the sun and each other’s company.

The girls of Hebrew Academy are familiar with the routine of giving out Neshek because in previous years, the girls had opportunities to go on Mivtzoim one Friday each month.

The process of giving out Neshek was ingrained deeply into the Shabbaton’s theme, “Just Do It.”

The theme of “Just Do It” circulates around the idea of going out of one’s comfort zone, moving out of their secure space, and pursuing their soul’s mission to do what is right. Sometimes we must push our own boundaries to find what we are truly looking. More often than not does the answer lie elsewhere than from where we are familiar. This idea comes directly from the parsha Lech Lecha.

Hashem told Avraham to go, without any specific directions of where to go and when to stop. But nonetheless, Avraham went without asking any questions. Avraham recognized that Hashem would only have his best interests in mind, and this mission would be most vital. Avraham went out of his comfort zone, leaving the land with which he was familiar, and left without looking back.

This teaches a lesson of ultimate belief in G-d, as well as the concept of reaching for what we want and need. The idea of spreading light is completely selfless because spreading light not only benefits the lighter, but all of the people around the illumination. When spreading light, it may be necessary for that one leap of faith to reach our ultimate goal. Shy and nervous people rarely get the job done which is why the girls of HAOC were exercising their ability to Just Do It. This was their call to action, this was their contribution of spreading light with sincerity and alacrity.