Boys Head Out for Florida Trip

Oholei Torah Eighth Grade ended off a Mivtza Hachana for Yud Shevat with 8 lucky winners taking off for a Shabaton at Chabad of Key Biscayne, Florida.

This was part of the rewards for a 4 week program preparing for Yud Shevat. The Mivtza had the boys involved in learning a weekly booklet discussing the importance of having the right mindset and concentration during Davening. They then learned the meaning of the three Parshiyos of Shema, as well as what Chassidus has to say on the subject.

Boys were over heard saying, “this mivtza really added meaning and geshmak in my daveing.”

All boys who participated in the Mivtza received great rewards, including Seforim, gift certificates, and an upcoming ice-skating trip, besides for the raffles with the 8 lucky winners who spent a beautiful Shabbaton at Chabad of Key Biscayne.

The boys went biking, toured a 100 year-old lighthouse, took a boat ride to Miami and went snorkeling, ending with an inspiring Shabbos Farbrengen with the Shliach. A heartfelt Yasher Koach to the Caroline family for hosting.

A big thank you to the four Shluchim of Oholei Torah Eighth Grade, Yehuda Carlebach, Avremel Caroline, Shmuel Wagner and Mendel Zaltzman for their tireless efforts in arranging and running the Mivtza.

After all the excitement, the one question from the 8th graders was, “When’s the next Mivtza starting?” Well, trust the Shluchim – they’ve got something up their sleeves!

On Monday the Shluchim launched the new Mivtza: a Mivtza Chazara, in which the boys review all the material from the booklets – in a new, full-color booklet, revised and edited by noted Mashpi’im and Mechanchim.

Here’s the twist: the Shluchim won’t be running the Mivtza. 8 captains were chosen who then picked their teams for a fun and interactive learning experience!

The boys will review the booklet for the next month, followed by a test. Additionally, using the method of R’ Chiya (Bava Metzia 85b), each team received a paragraph in Pesukei Dezimra. Each boy will learn the explanation of one Pasuk with the Meforshim, and then teach it to the rest of his team, resulting in the whole team knowing and understanding the entire paragraph, which will be included on the test.

In addition, the boys will take part in a game show at the Jewish Children’s Museum game show studio.

The boys with the highest marks will compete against each other in individual, as well as team, rounds, resulting in a winner, a runner-up, and a winning team. Each of the winners will be receiving amazing prizes, as you can see in the following video presentation which was played to launch the program:

As well, each participant in the Mivtza will be participating in an exciting event at the end.

“Our goal is to increase an awareness in the greatest gift Hashem has given to us: a chance to meet with Him – a meeting called Davening,” organizers said. “The Mivtza is L’zchus the immediate and complete redemption of R’ Sholom Mordechai Halevi Ben Rivka Rubashkin. May Hashem hear all our Tefillos and send him home right now!”

Of course, none of this would be possible without the support of Rabbi Sholom Goldstein, Menahel, Mechina division of Oholei Torah, and Rabbi Yossi Bryski, director of OTEG.

Download Mivtza Chazorah booklet.

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