On the Shabbos before the Chidon trip, Chaya Landa was reviewing her Yahadus book one last time. Her father, Rabbi Menachem Landa, shliach in Novato, California, was discussing a JLI class with his wife Adina nearby. Chaya overheard and pointed out that the Rambam says the opposite. She was right, and it was the next part of the class.
That kind of knowledge comes from a year of studying Sefer Hamitzvos with dedication, using spare time that other kids might spend on screens. This week Chaya and over 100 young shluchos like her, joined the MyShliach Chidon retreat, celebrating their efforts.
The girls came from across the globe, including Cyprus, Brazil, and the Cayman Islands, arriving in Crown Heights for a packed two-day retreat organized by MyShliach at Merkos 302, the global community for young Shluchim.
The retreat, running Wednesday through Thursday, celebrated months of effort by young shluchos who studied the Rambam’s Sefer Hamitzvos through MyShliach’s Chidon program, which enables Yaldei Hashluchim to participate in the Tzivos Hashem Chidon with weekly Zoom classes, study materials, and testing throughout the year.
“Every young shlucha deserves to feel like she belongs to something larger,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Executive Director of Merkos 302. “These girls come from different ends of the world and speak different languages, but when they come together, they’re one big family.”
Wednesday morning began at the Rebbe’s Ohel before the group headed to Activate Amusement center for an action-packed outing, followed by slurpees and a trip to the American Dream amusement park, where they joined the other Tzivos Hashem Chidon participants. The day wrapped with a tambourine-decorating workshop.
Thursday began with a rally in 770 alongside hundreds of girls from other participating communities, followed by a double-decker bus ride to the Chidon girls finale event and game show, and an afternoon at Area 53 amusement park. The trip concluded with a farewell banquet at Rubashkin’s, where the girls took on personal hachlatos at a lively auction.
“These young shluchos work hard all year on their shlichus and in their Chidon learning,” said Rabbi Mendy Shanowitz, Director of MyShliach at Merkos 302. “This retreat is about giving them the recognition they’ve earned and surrounding them with friends who best understand their lives.”
“Chaya loved every part of the trip, but being around other girls who studied the same sefer as her was a special feeling,” Rabbi Landa said. “She made so many new friends, and they all share a love for learning.”
Through it all, a team of dedicated counselors kept the energy high and the logistics running, making sure the girls felt celebrated at every turn.
“From the moment the girls arrived, the energy was nonstop,” said Rabbi Levi Harlig, Chidon coordinator at MyShliach. “Beyond all the fun, you could see a real sense of pride throughout. Proud of what they accomplished, and proud to be shluchos.”
For the young shluchos headed home to their communities around the world, the Chidon retreat was two days they won’t forget. But the year of Torah and knowledge they gained to get there will stay with them far longer.
The trip was made possible by the team at MyShliach at Merkos 302:
Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Executive Director of Merkos 302.
Rabbi Mendy Shanowitz, Director of MyShliach
Rabbi Yossi Elberg, Program Director at MyShliach
Rabbi Levi Harlig, Chidon Coordinator at MyShliach
Sara Reiter and Esti Kamman, MyShliach Girls Chidon trip Coordinators
Head counselors Tziviah Gurary and Rikka Bluming, and their amazing team of counselors
Best chidon trip coordinators! My daughter had an incredible trip!