Sixty-three high-schoolers, coming from over a dozen Chabad schools around the world, visited Crown Heights last Shabbos. They all had one thing in common: they had just finished Batsheva Learning Center’s High School Chidon program. Over five months, they’d studied, mastered, and passed five tests on the entire Sefer Hamada of the Rambam.
A Shabbaton in Crown heights was an opportunity to celebrate their accomplishment, reflect on their experience and bond with other girls who share their passion for learning.
“It was amazing to be among so many girls who all love learning and persevered through the months to learn an entire Sefer,” said Chaya Raichik, a Chidon participant from LGHS Chicago. “And the knowledge that I can, with the right tools, learn an entire Sefer is a really exhilarating feeling.”
Over the course of the weekend, the girls enjoyed learning sessions, art workshops, a Rambam-themed scavenger hunt, inspiring mealtimes filled with singing and divrei torah, and tours of the Rebbe’s library and WLCC. Even more than the activities themselves, what the girls appreciated most was the empowering atmosphere and the warm camaraderie of the group. As Esti Schachter, Chidon participant for Beth Rivka Melbourne, put it: “What I loved most about the Chidon Shabbaton was meeting so many Lubavitch girls who all did the Chidon together…It was beautiful to see so many of us singing niggunim, farbrenging and discussing what we learned over the past few months.”
“Chidon [had an]…environment of chassidishkeit, and [learning] lishmah,” said Rivka Rivkin, a participant from LGHS. “We weren’t trying to impress anyone; we were all just there to learn, grow, connect, celebrate, and get inspired.”
The weekend culminated in an event on Sunday night, hosted in the JCM. The Chidon finalists, who scored the top ten test averages, competed in a game show together. There was a first, second, and third-place winner who won a set of the Pardes Hamelech Rambam, Yayn Malchus, and Rambam Hamevuar Sefer Hamada, respectively. In addition, all of the finalists and participants in Chidon received a personalized plaque rewarding their efforts.
The girls left the weekend inspired and empowered to use their newly honed and sharpened learning skills in the future. “Chidon gave me an appreciation and real love for learning,” said Chana Rodel Karpilovsky, a participant from Beis Chomesh Toronto. “After the chidon weekend, friends and I set up chavrusas to continue our learning journey together. Although Chidon may be over, chidon taught us that learning never stops!”
Mazal tov to the Chidon finalists and winners:
First Place Winner:
Mili Rosenbluh – Lubavitch Girls High School Chicago
Second Place Winner:
Rivkie Brashevitzky – Beis Chana High School Miami
Third Place Winner:
Mussie Notik – Lubavitch Girls High School Chicago
Finalists:
Chana Rodel Karpilovsky – Beis Chomesh Toronto
Dina Korol – Beis Chomesh Toronto
Necha Charytan – Beth Rivkah Academy Montreal
Rochel Raizel Feldman – Cheder Chabad Sydney Australia
Sarah Rochel Hertzel – Beis Chaya Mushka Crown Heights
Shalva Miriam Rosenberg – Bnos Menachem Crown Heights
Tzivia Weinbaum – Bais Rivkah Crown Heights
Yehudis Korf – Beis Chana High School Miami
Batsheva learning center is single-handedly changing the way Chabad women approach and own Torah.