By COLlive reporter
Photos by Itzik Roytman
Amid singing and dancing, the Kinus Tzeirei Hashluchos convention by the Shluchim Office for daughters of Shluchos concluded on a high note with a grand Hakhel banquet in Brooklyn, New York.
“We just completed the 3 most unforgettable days filled with chayus and friendship; achdus and energy,” declared the emcee Goldie Itkin. “And most importantly, with a pride in who we are and what our mission is.”
Close to 1000 girls on Shlichus in large and small cities around the world filled the Campus Chomesh hall in Crown Heights which was transformed into a festive ballroom on Sunday night.
The timing of the Kinus was highlighted on the eve of 22 Shvat, the yartzeit of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson OBM, wife of the Rebbe and an inspiration to Chabad women and girls.
Special treats such as Kinus decorated donuts and magnets were given out throughout the evening which included davening, speeches, music and a catered dinner.
Opening the banquet were Menucha Itkin of Pittsburgh, PA and Mushka Kesselman of Malmo, Sweden, who recited the kapital Tehillim of the Rebbe and Rebbetzin, respectively.
12 Pesukim were said by the young Shluchos Nechami Holtzberg – Georgetown, NY; Mushka Hecht – Israel; Sarale Kievman – Mansfield, MA; Yocheved Deutch – Samara, Russia; Mina Teichtel – Champaign, IL; Mussie and Rivkie Kaplan – Victoria, British Columbia; Chani Zohar – Tel Aviv, Israel; Leah Spritzer – Chattsworth, CA; Sheina and Devorah Leah Mimoum – Montrouge, France; Chaya Kaplan – Milan, Italy; Shaina Engle – Melbourne, Australia; Shaina Danow – Leeds, England.
During the banquet a photographer went to each bunk and took pictures. On the way out, all girls received a special magnet with their picture of their bunk printed on it.
With live music by Benshimon and much fun, the young shluchos danced their hearts out with a musical presentation by Mrs. Rivka Eilfort, a Shlucha in Carlsbad, CA, who as a child was a camper in the Kinus.
The theme of this year’s Kinus was “Ich Bin A Hakhel Yid” (I am a Hakhel Jew) and focused on the Rebbe’s message of this year being a Hakhel Year. Every camper received supplies to make their own Hakhel gatherings back home and a coin purse with tzedakah.
Delivering the keynote address was Shlucha Mrs. Feigie Ceitlin, Program Director of Chabad Tucson in Arizona, who had run the Tzeirei Hashluchos Kinus and the Young Shluchos Winter Camp in past years.
Having being born on Shlichus, Ceitlin recounted her childhood memories of assisting her parents Rabbi Yossie and Chanie Shemtov in their Shlichus. “You are part of the Shlichus and you represent the Rebbe just like your parents,” she told participants. “Just like the adults, you have the power to bring Yidden closer to Yiddishkeit.”
She also emphasized the special care and love the Rebbe showed the Shluchim and their children, as depicted in this video by JEM:
A highlight of the banquet was the announcement of the winners of the Parsha Podcast raffle. Each week, Young Shluchos visit the young Shluchim website ShluchimKids.Org and listen to the Parsha Podcast. By filling out the questionnaire, they enter into a weekly raffle.
On Friday, the entire Kinus listened to a podcast and all girls entered the raffle. The winners of this week’s iPod Shuffles were announced at the banquet.
Many other prizes were given out as well and lots of raffles – including staff raffles with special prizes sponsored by Tzfasman Jewelers. Prizes also included the set of Sefer Hashluchim and a free ticket to the Young Shluchos Winter Camp in Florida.
Mrs. Simi Shemtov, director of the Kinus Tzeirei Hashluchos gave special thanks to the phenomenal banquet committee: Goldie Itkin, Chaiky Weingarten, Chaya Zaltzman and Shaina Groner.
Another highlight was the International Roll Call where the countries and states of the young Shluchos are announced. Children also wore special glow in the dark bracelets with the theme of the year.
Chinuch Yaldei Hashluchim (CYH), a division of The Shluchim Office, has prepared a special year-long program that allows campers to “continue the Kinus all year long.”
By logging onto the young shluchim website at ShluchimKids.org, all young shluchim and Shluchos can take part in the exciting programs and projects that take place throughout the year.
VIDEO: Full footage of the banquet (for women and girls viewing)
ETTY HEBER FRAIDA FLINT RIVKA SCHULTZ ROCHEL HECHT
Can’t wait for next year… Found me in the pictures only once:(
My cousins first year!! She enjoyed it so much!
I really really really can’t wait for next year 🙂
I HAD THE BEST TIME IN THE WORLD!
Mushka U.
Kaiza D.
Geula E.
Chaya B.
Shaina F.
Shaina G.
Go HACS Girls!!!!
miss yaaa
Very nice to see the young shluchos they did a wonderful job at the womens banquet.. nice to see you geula leading bentching ..!
OMG mem gimmel i miss u sooooo much! I had a blast with you! KIT
Goooooooo Sara seagall!!!!
-fellow DTAer (7th grade Shlucha)
Go Ceita Marasow best counselor
I spy mushkie schmukler chana kornfeld chana feller mushka faijnland chaya rubin…… 45 hurray 45 hurray 45 45 45 oy vey
LOVE YOU GUYS
Elki Havlin Frankfurt u r the Best! !!!!!!!!!!
GO ETTY AND LIBA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
XXX MISSING U
UR FRIEND FROM LONDON
Thank you for an amazing program
LOOK LIKE YOURE HAVING FUN WE LOVE YOU YOUE THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wuhhoo Geula!
Go D.L.R from Switzerland!!!!
The setup is so gorgeous!
mushkie uminer.
love ya
a freind in london
from australia
From your grade 5 freind from melbourne/brisie
Love the way the shluchim office programs are so full of toichen and depth.
With focus always on hiskashrus and chasidshkeit
Biggest chossid in lubavitch ⬆
Chaya zaltzman best counselor ever I love you Chaya!!!
Gniwiches!!!
Moussia Belinsky
Miriam Posner
Mushky Uminer
Sara’le kievman
Rivka Rapaport
Miriam Cantor
Leah Brody
Goldie Itkin
and so much more!!!
Enjoy!!!!
;););););)
Bels love yaaaa!!!!
you rock fellow shluchah! I had a blast with you!
Go, Chaya Mushka Greenberg!!!
Simi Shemtov keep up the good work and the most important thing is keep on smiling keep on dancing keep on going thanks for sharing with us
Thanks so much for everything. The kinus waa so nice and an unforgettable experience!!!
An absolutely fantastic ,amazing ,inspiring experience ever I loved it!!! I had a blast
Go pioneer shlepers! We r awesome!!!!!
love sara
i spy the 3 greatest cousins ever !!!!!!!!
we love u
Chaya hour the best! Keep being the best chossid
go us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yehudis heller, mushka teitlebaum, chana paltiel!!!!!!! omg I miss you so much lovee you so much
xoxo
I spy Chaya Mushka Greenberg from Buffalo!!
Miss yaa