Girls’ Life-Changing Weekend

By Mushky R.

Commit to live your life dedicated to Hashem? Check. Fight over who gets to learn 200 lines of Tanya and 300 oisios of a sicha and complete 40 hours of bikur cholim – all on your own time? Check. Hotel, pool, cotton candy, ice cream, nail and makeup salon, face painting? Check.

Bais Rivkah High School went on its bi-annual school Shabbaton this past Shabbos, and it was an experience no girl can forget.

When we gave out feedback forms in school, the responses were overwhelming. The two questions simply asked the girls for their favorite and most memorable parts of Shabbaton; the answers went over the lines and onto the backs of some papers. “I can’t stop thinking about it,” wrote a tenth grader. “It was the best Shabbos of my LIFE,” said another. We know we can really trust Morah Shaindel Tiechtel, Bais Rivkah’s dedicated menahel, when she says, “I’ve been on every Bais Rivkah High School Shabbaton, and this was by far one of the best, if not the best. And more girls came this year than any year previously – 440 girls joined us on Shabbaton.”

From when the seven coach buses pulled away from Crown Street on Friday morning until they returned on Sunday afternoon, the girls experienced an immersion into emes like never before.

“It was never boring. Every minute was filled with something exciting and fulfilling,” said one student. “It had the perfect balance of fun and spiritual. I wish I could achieve that same balance in my life,” said another.

The twelfth graders, who had gone up a day earlier to have an additional Thursday trip and prepare the hotel for the school’s arrival, took care of every detail: thrilling welcome videos were shown on the coach buses; each hotel room was decorated beforehand with welcome packages, Chitas booklets, Nacheim newsletters, and our very own school newspaper, The Grapevine; an art gallery by Bais Rivkah’s very own talents graced the walls; and girls on kitchen staff helped with the food catered by Benjy Stock, which was both plentiful and delicious.

But the themed decorations in the dining room and the cheesecakes on the breakfast buffet were not what stuck out in the girls’ minds. With guidance from Rabbi Shimmy Weinbaum and Mrs. Sarale Blau, Bais Rivkah’s senior class planned a weekend that would have lasting impressions. As one tenth grader said: “I know that all the other times I’ve been inspired I didn’t actually do anything to apply it to myself, but now I am having daas, and it will always stay with me.”

Daas? The Shabbaton’s theme: “Are you serious? Living your commitment” empowered girls to commit their whole lives to Hashem–every thought, speech, and action. Sounds a bit lofty? “This Shabbaton was focused on committing–even in the smallest way. How much more practical and specific can you get?” said a girl. I think we’ll take her word for it.

Chochmah, binah, and daas were brought into the picture to get the girls’ whole selves on board– “I can, I will, I want” was the motto. Workshops on Friday night had girls learning about the enemy inside them–the evil Yetzer Hara that is not to be confused with the “real me”. Farbrengens lasting until 8 am with the rabbis that came along, Rabbi Herman, Rabbi Weinbaum, Rabbi Bleich and Rabbi Silberberg, took the theme to the next level. As one girl wrote afterward: “I AM COMMITTED!” Not to mention the many heart-to-heart conversations happening on any of the many couches in the Raleigh Hotel throughout the night.

Despite the lack of adequate shut-eye, 9:45 am came and girls gathered for optional chassidus before davening. “I slept for two hours, but I didn’t feel tired. I had never been so pumped in my life!” The Shabbos meal gave way to singing: “I’ll never forget the feeling of the floor shaking with 500 girls screaming Ad Mosai,” wrote a girl. “I really felt Moshiach was coming and I have never felt this before.” The whole school, seniors with freshmen, teachers and students, loud and quiet girls as one with their arms around each other not only gave a feeling of unity but, as one girl said: “I felt such school pride. I love Bais Rivkah… I always did, but now I love it even more.”

Shabbos day gave way to workshops on chochmah, binah, and daas given by Bais Rivkah’s very own twelfth grade. “They are such role models,” said a tenth grader, “more down to earth than any rabbi.” More food, havdalah, and an hour of niggunim later, the girls got ready for a packed night of fun.

The night started of with a ventriloquist who wowed the girls with his magician act. A “Minute to Win it” game of short challenges followed. Then came the mitzvah auction. Between perusing the salad bar and bites of lasagna, girls had 43 prizes to choose from. Not money, but mitzvos, would get you a ticket. You could win a session with a personal trainer if you committed to get a mashpia, $36 at a restaurant if you promised to say brochos out loud during lunch, and win manicures and pedicures by pledging to improve in an area of tznius. The last three prizes – a trip to anywhere in the U.S., a portrait of the Rebbe, $200 to Apple, were up for bidding in exchange for oisios of sichos, memorizing lines of Tanya, and doing hours of bikur cholim. At least thirty girls outbid each other to learn 300 oisios! A raffle had to be drawn. The winning girls committed to learn 300 oisios, memorize 200 lines of Tanya, and complete 40 hours of bikur cholim. One junior said: “It was so inspiring to see the genuineness when girls were doing mitzvos for their own sake… without noticing the prize…” “I was able to commit to things I would never have done otherwise,” said another. A paper of all the hachlatos was brought to the Rebbe, who must be getting much naches.

The night continued with a lively and entertaining concert by Rivkah Krinsky, followed by a mesmerizing juggling show by the talented Rabbi Herman who acted out a tale while he juggled and an inspiring, original rap by Bais Rivkah’s very own Fraidel Schwartzberg. “I’ve never heard anything like it,” remarked a chaperone, “only in Bais Rivkah–any talent you have, you can use.”

Dancing gave way to a soul-rousing seder niggunim–completely spontaneous. On the other side of the hotel a different kind of impromptu farbrengen was going on with the rabbis which lasted well past 6 am.

Shabbaton didn’t fizzle out–it ended with a bang! On Sunday morning, during a delicious pancake, wafflie, and ice cream brunch, girls shared their meaningful moments of Shabbaton. They spoke from their hearts, touching the audience. The bus left the hotel and took girls to the Ohel. “I wrote a pan like I’ve never written before,” said a girl.

Bais Rivkah is a different place post-Shabbaton. “The school is on a high,” related a teacher. A bulletin board in the main hallway reads “Are you living your commitment?” Leather bracelets remind girls of their Shabbaton inspiration with the words “Living my commitment. Shabbaton 5772”. “I’m still all Shabbaton-ed out,” said another girl, who since Shabbaton has started learning Tanya every morning. And more than one girl wrote on the feedback form, “Can we do it again? Next year, please.” “It was the greatest time, physically and spiritually,” affirmed another.

Life-changing weekend? Check.