By COLlive reporter
The Chidon Sefer Hamitzvos Boys Tournament for 5780 that was meant to take place in Crown Heights next week with children and parents from around the world will be postponed and take place in a different format, COLlive has learned.
The decision to cancel the International Championship of the 613 Mitzvos, a project of Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch and Tzivos Hashem, was because of the global outbreak of coronavirus.
Over 5,000 boys and girls have participated in the learning as part of the contest. The girls tournament was meant to culminate on March 19-22, 2020, while the boys were to gather on March 26-29, 2020. Both are now canceled until further notice.
“We are unable to hold the Chidon Shabbaton as scheduled,” organizers said, “due to all the restrictions introduced by the Coronavirus pandemic.”
A letter signed by Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, Rabbi Yerachmiel Benjaminson, Rabbi Sholom Ber Baumgerten and Rabbi Shimmy Weinbaum says they have consulted with rabbonim and health authorities in making the decision.
Organizers said they “are actively looking for ways to give the finalists the fitting experience as soon as practically possible.”
They said the plans are being made for children to take all tests (finalists, trophy and Kol Hatorah Kula). “We are shipping the children Chidon sweaters and ID cards, and will arrange transport for all appropriate awards,” they said.
“Although there is no known medical antidote for this virus, we will be stronger than it by standing up for Hashem and His Torah,” they stated.
“Furthur details will be forthcoming about our plans for a game show and how and when we can properly celebrate the children’s accomplishments with a new Chidon experience in the near future,” they said.
“Reimbursements are not currently planned,” they said about the sign-up fees parents gave to attend the Shabbaton weekend.
Organizers said they are planning an online tournament sometime in the near future, and “are actively looking for ways to give the finalists the fitting experience as soon as practically possible.”
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OMG NO WAY WHY IS THIS HAPPENINGGG!!!! 😭😭😭😭
WHATS THIS YEAR GONNA BE LIKE WITHOUT THE CHIDON SHABBATON?!
IS IT GONNA BE RESCHEDULED?!
– VERY DISAPPOINTED 8TH GRADER
HELLOOOO ITS OUR LASTTT YEARRR *8TH GRADERS*
Totally it’s my first and last year so can there be a 9th grade
I’m so so so so sorry for EVERY SINGLE boy and girl who worked SO hard to get into the Shabbaton (myself included) And i hope beyond hope that we will be able to get our reward and stuff cuz this is EXTREMELY upsetting especially for those of us that it’s our last year.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I”M LITERALLY CRYING I”VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS SINCE THE BEGINING OF THE YEAR AND NOW I CAN”T GO THIS IS MY LAST YEAR MY LAST YEAR AND I CAN”T EVEN GOOOOOOO WHY WHY WHY
THIS IS SO SO SO SO DISAPPOINTINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
I worked really hard for the Shabbaton!!!!! It can’t be possible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
will they refund the parents for the shabaton?
And all the donors who sponsored the kids?
They can do Chidon in a new format that still cost money. All done for safety only and as a ban of NY not to gather more then 500 ppl.
Imagine the disappointment. My daughter was planning to come from Australia. Been studying day and night. Canceling tickets now
So devastating
They will have another format.
They WILL make it up to us.
They gotta figure out how.
All is not lost.
Fear and giving up is a tactic of the yetzer hara.
We had an expectation to go.
It will be something different this year.
We live in amazing world with so much technology.
Tzivos Hashem will figure this one out too!!!!!!!!!!
why cant it simply be postponed to after the virus is all over. surely it will be easier to do in the school holidays
why cant it be postponed to the summer holidays
Of course it’s extremely disappointing, but They already booked the trips and the game show. They are probably losing tons of money as is.
Most girls and boys have camp in the summer and unless camp is canceled, they would have to choose between chidon and camp which is a very hard choice
I put so much effort into this
This is my first year
I worked so hard to get into shabbaton
Maybe they should postpone it like in cheshvan
I watched videos of last year
It looked so much fun
Now this!!
Chidon is the most amazing thing ever and I hope this will be even better than before
HOW ARE THEY GOING TO REPAY THAT EXPERIENCE THAT THE KIDS WORKED SOOOO HARD FOR?
PLEASE KEEP US POSTED>
THANK YOU
We all owe one to Him!
As much as I am upset, I am very thankful to everyone and anyone who put effort into the chidon this year. This year is my first year. I am in seventh grade and do not attend a Chabad school. I was looking forward to this for months! It was really sad when I heard the news! But still, thank you for all your hard work!
It is very disappointing and I hope-I know that we will find a way even though it’s very difficult.
dear girls and boys
you are the best
I know you learned day and night
you put a lot of effort in that
it’s disappointing
but still, you learned maybe you cant go but at least You learned it for yourself and you will always remember it. maybe, in the end, they will delay it. all the children who put in the effort will get a reward from Hashem
be happy be positive
everything is from Hashem