By S.R.
It’s like I’ve raised two different families.
I’m not new to parenting. I have one married child, and a number of others still in yeshiva and school. We got married just two years before Gimmel Tammuz and I remember how my husband and I wondered despairingly how in the world we would bring up children to be Chassidim in these dark times.
It was not easy. My older kids were typical children. They were generally well-behaved, but keeping them busy and happy during their spare time was a constant source of stress. There was the undeniable pull of the screens and the risks they posed, and the awareness that there was so little I could control, especially when they were at a friend’s home.
Some mornings brought an actual fight to get them out of the house, and off to a classroom where they felt they had nothing to look forward to. And in the evenings, all too often were the gut-wrenching phone calls with the teachers desperately working on ways to motivate my disenchanted child.
If someone would have told me just seven years ago how things would change, I would not have believed them. That one day my beautiful but very regular children would join a movement of kids who dedicate their spare time to learning Torah. That they would be so proud of their knowledge and share it at the Shabbos table and whenever a guest was over. That in school, they would constantly amaze their teachers with the wide range of topics they are familiar with. That this movement would make them into confident, happy, and passionate children, affecting every other area of their lives.
I would have described this as nothing but the times of Moshiach. I could never believe this would happen with my own children during the times of Golus.
But it’s true. By joining the Chidon Sefer Hamitzvos, my younger kids have become part of a movement. A movement of children all over the world who study the 613 mitzvos together, who are special because they work hard and succeed. Their free time is no longer empty time to fill; it is an opportunity to learn for Chidon, whether through the full-color textbooks, audiobooks, or the online practice quizzes. Now I watch in amazement as my Chidon children head off confidently to school—wonderful, regular children with something to look forward to.
It’s all in anticipation of one weekend with a program whose worth cannot be overstated. Thanks to Rabbi Shimmy Weinbaum and the incredible staff at Tzivos Hashem, the high-energy, exciting, and inspiring four-day experience packed with trips, competitions, and activities is the talk of the year. And the highlight of it is the grand Chidon Game Show in which my eighth grader will actually take part to be tested on all 613 Mitzvos. Can you imagine naming any of the 613 Mitzvos and asking a child who, where or when this mitzvah applies? And she can actually give you the answer! It’s beyond belief!
But it’s not just about knowledge. It’s not just about an experience. It’s about reaching our children. Somehow, all the noise and distraction vying for our children’s attention, the Chidon has won in a big way. And in these volatile times, it’s a lifeboat for our precious children that we can’t afford to pass up on.
My children are not exceptional. They are the norm. But because of what Chidon has accomplished, this “second family” of mine is nothing like the first.
Chidon is running a campaign now called the ChidonDrive to support the movement, while at the same time helping to offset the fees so the Shabbaton is affordable for the parents, particularly families like mine who have multiple children in the running. As someone who sees firsthand the far-reaching effects of this program, I am eternally grateful, and the least I can do is to help get the word out.
How many op-eds have we read bemoaning the state of our chinuch “system” with no real solutions in sight? How many hours have we spent awake at night worrying, wishing, and wondering how to help our children succeed?
Now there is finally an answer.
This is not just another campaign. It is the future of our children. And what a great preparation for Moshiach’s times when we will in fact be able to fulfill all 613 mitzvos.
So respond when you get that link, or better yet, find the family you know on the website now, whether it’s your grandkids, neighbors or cousins. Be a part in this incredible revolution, for the sake of our children. www.ChidonDrive.com
I started a page for my kids and it’s amazing!! Thank you!
This mother said what I really wanted to say. I dont have the words she has. But I agree with all she said
Rabbi Moshe Kotlarski and Mr Gorge Rohor are the ones behind this incredible project and the rest of what Tzivos Hashem does. Every time I speak to shimmy and tell him the profound impact that he is having on my children he always says give credit where credit is due. Its Rabbi Moshe Kotlarski and Mr Gorge Rohor that deserve the thanks it is only possible because of them.
Such a smart initiative. My kids feel like they are running the Miami marathon!!
I’ve never realized how incredible the Chidon truly is until my own son started learning for it this year.
I started a chidon drive page for my kids a few days ago and we are done. My kids are going for free.
Tzivos hashem once again did it right!!
I will forever be grateful to them for what they have offered my children throughout the years with their Chidon program.
This is very clever schools should use this platform and have parents who cant pay full tuition help raise money for their kids tuition.
Who ever came up with this idea is nothing less then a genius.
What my kids learn with the Yahadus curriculum under the Chidon they don’t learn in a full year in school.
They wake up every morning early and go to sleep late just to get an extra 45 minuets of learning in.
Thank you Chidon HQ’s
My kids are still too young for Chidon, but I’ve seen what a difference it has made in my neighbors and cousins families. It’s literally unbelievable how kids have been transformed.
Thank you Tzivos hashem for making the Chidondrive.com. With the communities support it helps us the parents so much when it comes to paying for the chidon. And thank you Tzivos hashem for coming up with most the money so us the parents don’t have to pay for so much.
My children love every second of the chidon!!
Amazing for kids
Hi all,
I am a proud supporter of the Chidon Sefer Hamitzvos. Every time I give a donation to this Mosad I give it happily because I know it’s well spent. Tzivos hashem has made a good mind which is sitting on our doorsteps and need us the donors to step up to the plate to make sure they can grow in the way they need to.
Could not believe how well this worked. Simply set a page and shared with my family and friends and within two days my kids are going for free. Its truly a life saving site. I really was not sure how I would be able to pay for chidon and this was so helpful
So helpful for me. More than the money it gave my children such pride to make a video and send it to our family. Everyone wrote such nice comments and it truly made them so proud.
The chidon changed my kid’s life!! I’m so grateful for it
Thank you to everyone who works to make this amazing chidon. Especially the men on floor 6 who are the most dedicated shluchim in the world
Can’t wait for the chidon to be back again. I look forward to it all year!
Serious Learning
Holy Work
Organised program
Loads of fun
Only th ebest
Magnificent Chidon!
Best
Organisation
Crown
Heights
Inspirational
Neverending Fun
Awesome organizers
Fantastic time
Truly the best
Amazing times
Lots of learning
I love it!
Thank you
This is so inspiring
Go Sholom Lobenstein!
We are happy that our children are busy learning for the past few month, I mean really busy, as a parent I learned a lot too, amazing time for learning together even little ones listening and want to be a part of it. You need to do it wider for older kids too. It’s not just about learning it’s also about gaining good midos, family time and friendship that for the first time we see children from all USA coming to CH for this event. We are proud to be part of it and really thankful to one who wrote… Read more »
Nice fundraising pitch. The real underlying and replicable success is that the child feels accomplished. Now go figure out what you can do for them once they graduate chidon… Because ultimately their chinuch is in your hands (read: will I ensure I spend time learning with my child? Will I model a sense of accomplishment from my Torah learning? Will I ensure my child is in the best school for them, and not for my family’s name. Etc. Etc.) (This should not be misunderstood as a bashing of how the author raised their “first family”, nor of the accounplishments of… Read more »
I learned Chidon with my kids starting 18 years ago and I still remember the Torah learned! It’s amazing how our whole family grew in learning through this program
Proud Mom of Chidon winners
Go Mushka Greene!
Mesudar
ENjoyable
NIce
Dedication
Yiras shomayim
REbbe
Chidon is just amazing! My daughter does it and it gives so much knowlege!