Tzivos Hashem is running a worldwide competition for Jewish children to mark 30 years since the youth movement was established by the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
“The Power of Jewish Children” will feature entries from children from around the world, who will compete for prizes totaling $30,000 cash and a trip to New York.
COLive.com is one of the major sponsors of the contest, which will be judged by a panel of judges and by public votes.
Entries may be in one of three categories:
Heart: A Chesed Award for an exceptional act of kindness for another.
Hand: A Performance Award for the best display of talent, such as a personally written story or poem, artwork, a comedy skit or playing a musical instrument.
Head: An Achievement Award for exceptional studies, researching and writing about something important or mastering a difficult concept.
COLlive is showcasing some of the entries:
Name: Shmuli Matusof
Age: 10
School: Cheder Lubavitch Chicago
Theme of submission: Shmuli’s personal story about Shlichus
My name is Shmuli Matusof. I am ten years old. I am the youngest of twelve children k’h. I live in the Midwest, a city called Madison. Madison is the Capital of Wisconsin. Many people never heard of Madison – so I tell them that it is near Chicago. The truth is that Chicago is almost three hours away.
I love being a shliach. We are all very involved in all the activities that go on in the Chabad House. There are around twelve hundred Jewish families, and over four thousand Jewish students on campus. The one thing we don’t have is a Jewish school. I think that the hardest part of this shlichus is that my parents have to send their children to Chicago to get a proper chinuch. My parents have been doing this for over twenty five years. My oldest brother went when he was six years old, and now he is back, running the Chabad House on campus.
Many people ask me how it feels to be so far away from home. I’ll tell you the truth, sometimes I feel sad. It would be so much easier for me to live at home. But then I think about how hard it is for my parents, and I realize that this is part of my shlichus. My mother told me many times that the Rebbe is with me, is watching me, and is very proud of me. She told me something the Rebbe once said about the children born in Mitzrayim. Those babies that were born in the fields to escape the soldiers, were raised by the Malachim. When the Yidden left Mitzrayim, these children were the first to recognize Hashem. They said, “Zen Keli V’anveyhu.” This is our G-d. I hope that because we have Mesiras Nefesh to do the shlichus of the Rebbe, we will be the first to greet Moshiach.
One of the unusual sights in Madison is the Saturday football games. The stadium is very close to our Chabad house, so thousands of people dressed in red (thats the color of our team – the Badgers) are walking on Shabbos morning in the direction of the Chabad House. I imagine to myself that it is in the days of Moshiach, and everyone is celebrating Shabbos, and walking to Shul. What an amazing thing that would be. I can’t wait to witness it, very, very soon.
To join “The Power of Children” competition log onto www.PowerofJewishChildren.com.
Hi … Congradulations Shmuli…. Just read your beautiful story on Msn. Being the youngest must be alittle tough, but U are champ & a “star” as all the Matusof’s offspring shine & illuminate true kindness, tshadakah & the Rebbe’s mission in helping to lite the spark to glow….
Best wishes always,
Shalom, Judi& other Madisonites & Wisconsinites
I loved your story, Shmuli! Your story let me understand what its like going away to Cheder Lubavitch. Thank you for sharing our life. I am very proud of you! I can tell by your heart, you are a member of the Matusof family.
the matusof family is the most amazing family EVER!
shmuli was in my learnig class and he was the best in class
Shmuli, I loved your story! As a friend who has had the good fortune of spending more than a few Shabbosim with you and your family, I know your enthusiasm and dedication to your mission as a shliach. You have taught me sooooo much and with such chesed. You give all of us nachas! You are truly Chabad!
Another fringe benefit is that usually they can write a sentence without 22 spelling/grammar mistakes. You obviously went to Oholei Torah. Be proud that you were raised with Chinuch al taharas Hakodesh! Not all Shluchim’s children have that luxury. Be a chassidishe yid and go on shlichus for the right reasons. Only then will your children turn out the way you want them to. Rabbi Yona and Feigy Matusof are true chassidishe yidden that live with mesiras nefesh today as they did 25 years ago. It is for this reason that they are zoche to such beautiful and chassidishe children.… Read more »
see number 36 well actually all of these comments!
Thats why i think i want to bring up my kids on shlichus (besides the fact i want to go on shlichus for many other resons) because most children born on shlichus and have the proper chinuch at home grow up realy good! i mean they see other people doing things wrong [ex: “… saderday football game…” ] its totally wrong in their eyes. But unfortionly in crown hights half the education is from home and half the invirement and freinds. so when a avradge kid sees his/her freinds doing some thing wrong, its not THAT bad, why cany they… Read more »
This kid is yummmm!
dear boy, you ´ve great thoughts. I believe you are going to to great things, and, if you are there, its because you have a mission, a shlijus to do there. That Twelve Hundred taht are there, are needing you. You can teach them what the Rebbe said; teach what you have learnt.
Know this; NOBODY can match what YOU are doing. Keep strong, HaShem is with you, and the Rebbe taught you what you have to do, so: CHAZAK UBARUCH!
I’m 35 years old, not raised frum, and can only aspire to such maturity, emunah, chesed, and such great sensibilities of malachkite and menschkite.
I’m just starting in my life…:).
Anyway, you’re doing the right thing – getting and building a strong foundation for avodah Hashem and Am Yisroel, like how we start our day strong with tefillin, etc.
We are all going to be very fortunate for your service. Also, great job, parents AND kehillah chinuch, together! Thank you for the sacrifices you all make to do it “right”.
Shmulie you rock!
from a cheder student
from a staff member in Montreal!
es so cute
If I were to send my son away from home young, Chicago is the place. Very devoted principals who care for every child. I have a son there now.
He was home-schooled till age 9, then he really wanted to join his brother in Chicago (two years older than him).
Wow, Shmuli! Great Job! I’m happy to hear that got to go to Chicago finally.
-Your best teacher!
P.S FROM HIM AND FROM ALL THEIR CHILDREN
SO BEAUTIFUL AND ADORABLE!!!!!! SO CUTE! MAY HIS PARENTS HAVE MUCH NACHES FROM HIM!!!!
That is beautiful. I have a practical question though … who is this little boy living with? Does he have family in chicago he boards with? I know many very young children were sent from home to learn in jewish day schools and yeshivas not available in the town of the shluchim parents. But I’m not sure why in this day and age a child this young is not being homeschooled by the parents, or on the Online Shluchis School? If more information could be given it would better help those of us who also have to make a decision… Read more »
wow!
this kid is a tzaddik!
One of the unusual sights in Madison is the Saturday football games. The stadium is very close to our Chabad house
WOW! HIS PARENTS SHOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE MUCH NACHAS FROM THEIR “LITTLE” ONE!
hope you win :)!! you deserve it!!
that is an amazing story
WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!
the article says shmulis older brother went away from home at 6. Shmuli himself went at 9.
Amazing boy and ADORABLE!
There was a problem with the above address.
The link is
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Power-of-Jewish-Children-Competition/142013622518298
Shmuly, you see surely making the rebbe proud!
Simply amazing! Yashar Koach!
To see more great artwork and talent, to ask questions and find out more about the conest, like the competition fan page on http://www.facebook.com/album.php?profile=1&id=142013622518298#!/pages/The-Power-of-Jewish-Children-Competition/142013622518298
Good luck to everyone!
naches
that is what i call a shliach!!!
What a dugma chaya
All the Mattusof children are amazing ka”h!
thats my cousin…!!!!
Hashem look at your kinderlach, and their mesiras nefesh,, isnt it time to bring Moshiach already??
What a nice letter from such a young boy. P.s chabad ouse, is spelled house!Lol
ps. you have your mommy’s eyes………..
shmuli, this is great
i was your Mother’s morah, many years ago…and i am sooo proud of her and of YOU. your mesiras nefesh brought tears to my eyes. May your vision of thousands wearing Shabbos clothes going to shul come true very soon.
I am sure the Rebbe is VERY proud of you.
YOU are a GREAT soldier in the Rebbe’s army.
i had tears reading such a beautiful story. I wish all the shluchim great hatzlocho and only yidishe chasideshe nachas from there children
What a gorgeous kid inside and out!